Pause for Peace: On Living in the Hour of Cities Under Siege
The Writer's Journey with Laura Davis Podcast
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Show Notes
Episode Title:
Carolyn Forché's On Living in the Hour of Cities Under Siege: Poetry of Witness, Resistance, and Standing Against Injustice
Episode Description:
In this episode of Midweek Pause for Peace, host Laura Davis shares Carolyn Forché's powerful and urgent poem that addresses immigration enforcement, state violence, and community resistance. Through carefully selected imagery paired with this essential work of witness poetry, Laura honors the role of artists in times of political crisis. This episode offers support for anyone processing current events, seeking poetry that speaks truth to power, or looking for language that fuels resistance while providing community and solidarity.
What Laura Covers in This Episode:
How artists and writers fulfill their essential role during political crisis by creating work that educates, inspires resistance, and refuses despair
The power of "poetry of witness" to document injustice, immigration raids, and state violence while affirming our shared humanity across borders and identities
Why communities create barricades of care—bringing food to front lines, offering shelter, and building networks of protection—as acts of resistance and solidarity
The practical preparations Forché names for cities facing authoritarian tactics: gas masks, emergency contacts, knowing who will search if you disappear, and the moral imperative to hide those who need protection
About Host Laura Davis:
Laura Davis is an acclaimed author and writing teacher with over 35 years of experience helping writers craft powerful, authentic stories. She is the author of seven books, including the award-winning memoir "The Burning Light of Two Stars," which won the BookLife Prize in 2021. Laura is also co-author of the groundbreaking book "The Courage to Heal."
Through her Midweek Pause for Peace podcast series, Laura pairs carefully selected poetry with peaceful imagery to support listeners' emotional wellness and nervous system regulation.
Each week, host Laura Davis pairs beautiful imagery with meaningful poetry, offering listeners a respite for both heart and nervous system. These midweek pauses provide essential moments of reflection, healing, and inspiration in our complex world.
Perfect for: Anyone seeking Laura Davis' signature blend of poetry and peace, those managing stress and anxiety, and listeners who appreciate thoughtful, heart-centered content.
About the Featured Poet:
Carolyn Forché (born 1950) is an American poet, translator, and human rights advocate best known for coining the term "poetry of witness" and for work that addresses political trauma and human suffering. Her poetry collections include Gathering the Tribes (1976), winner of the Yale Younger Poets Prize; The Country Between Us (1981), drawing from her experiences as a journalist and human rights advocate in El Salvador during the civil war; The Angel of History (1994), which received the Los Angeles Times Book Award; and In the Lateness of the World (2020), a Pulitzer Prize finalist. A University Professor at Georgetown University, she directs the Lannan Center for Poetics and Social Practice. "On Living in the Hour of Cities Under Siege" is forthcoming from Otherwhere: New and Selected Poems, 1976-2026, to be published by Scribner Books in September 2026.
Connect with Carolyn Forché: https://www.carolynforche.com
Connect with Laura Davis:
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