[Unedited] Gregory Orr with Krista Tippett

<p>We often explore on this show the places in the human experience where ordinary language falls short. The poet Gregory Orr has wrested gentle, healing, life-giving words from extreme grief and trauma. And right now we are all carrying some magnitude of grief in our bodies.</p><p>Gregory Orr is the author of two books about poetry, <i>Poetry as Survival</i> and <i>A Primer for Poets and Readers of Poetry</i>, a memoir, <i>The Blessing</i>, and twelve collections of poetry, including <i>How Beautiful the Beloved</i> and <i>The Last Love Poem I Will Ever Write</i>. He taught at the University of Virginia from 1975 to 2019, where he founded the university’s Master of Fine Arts program in creative writing.</p><p>This interview is edited and produced with music and other features in the <i>On Being</i> episode "Gregory Orr — Shaping Grief With Language." Find more at <a href="https://onbeing.org/programs/gregory-orr-shaping-grief-with-language">onbeing.org</a>.</p><p>This show originally aired in May, 2019.</p><p>___________</p><p>Do you love what you're hearing? Our invitation to patronage is happening now. Participate in all that On Being is and is becoming. Give and more: <a href="https://bit.ly/440HRHI" target="_blank">onbeing.org/LoveUs</a>.</p><p>Sign up for The Pause to receive our seasonal Saturday morning newsletter and advance invitations and news on all things On Being.</p><p>And: if you can, please take a minute to rate On Being in this podcast app — you'll be bending the arc of algorithms towards this adventure of conversation and living.</p>