Marilyn Nelson, former Poet Laureate of Connecticut, English professor, and founder of Soul Mountain Retreat for poets, is our guest on Writers' Voices this week. Among her 12 published books and 3 chapbooks are two National Book Award finalists, Newberry Honor Books and a Coretta Scott King Honor book. She has received numerous other honors and awards for her writing and teaching.

In recent years, Nelson has focused largely on writing poems that explore African American history using traditional poetic forms such as the sonnet. Although written for adults, they have been published as illustrated books for young adults, receiving widespread acclaim. In "A Wreath for Emmet Till" she uses a very complex form, the heroic crown sonnet, to tell a tragic story from our not-so-ancient past.

Join Monica and Caroline Monday morning at 8am for a delightful wide-ranging conversation with poet Marilyn Nelson.