Richard Blanco

(3+7) (Q&A) WITH POET RICHARD BLANCO ON THE 'MATTERS OF THE SEA' BETWEEN CUBA AND AMERICA

(3+7) (Q&A) WITH POET RICHARD BLANCO ON THE 'MATTERS OF THE SEA' BETWEEN CUBA AND AMERICA

Cuban-American poet Richard Blanco, who read an original work at President Obama’s second inauguration ceremony in 2013, was asked to write and share a poem for the historic re-opening of the U.S. Embassy in Havana in August. THE ALIGNIST’s Beenish Ahmed spoke to him about the challenges of composing a poem for such a personally and politically significant occasion, and about Cuba – and America – have changed for him since amid renewed ties between the two countries.