"Marigolds," a poem about wonder | Safiya Sinclair

Summary

Podcast Summary: TED Talks Daily – "Marigolds," a Poem About Wonder | Safiya Sinclair

Episode Overview Released on July 9, 2025, the TED Talks Daily episode titled "Marigolds," a Poem About Wonder features poet Safiya Sinclair as she presents her evocative poem centered on nature, the fragility and joys of life, and the enduring presence of ancestors. The episode comprises Sinclair’s poetic performance followed by an insightful Q&A session with Helen Walters, TED's Head of Media and Curation.

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Introduction to Safiya Sinclair and "Marigolds"

The episode commences with host Elise Hu introducing Safiya Sinclair, highlighting her exploration of nature as a gateway to wonder. Sinclair's poem delves into personal memories, familial bonds, and the profound connections between past and present generations.

Key Themes:

• Nature as a Portal to Wonder: Sinclair portrays nature as an essential element that evokes awe and contemplation.
• Fragility and Joy of Life: The poem juxtaposes the delicate nature of existence with moments of profound joy.
• Ancestral Presence: Reflects on the lasting influence and memories of Sinclair’s ancestors.

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Safiya Sinclair’s Poetic Performance: "Marigolds" [03:02 - 06:03]

Sinclair delivers her poem "Marigolds," a lyrical journey through her childhood memories of gardening with her mother under a cherry tree. The marigolds symbolize beauty, resilience, and the nurturing bonds between family members. Through vivid imagery, Sinclair intertwines themes of growth, heritage, and the natural world, creating a tapestry that honors both personal and collective histories.

Notable Excerpts:

• "Our knees in the soil under the cherry tree, pressing our hands into the dirt for we were holy." ([04:45])
• "Listening to the water its memory is as close as I come to prayer." ([05:32])
• "A flower grown from fossil, a daughter dreamt from the dirt." ([06:00])

These lines encapsulate the essence of the poem, blending physical sensations with spiritual reflections.

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Q&A Session with Helen Walters [06:03 - 10:32]

1. The Muse and Writing Process [06:03 - 08:56]

Helen Walters initiates the conversation by praising Sinclair’s poem and inquiring about the creative process behind it.

Key Insights:

• Role of the Muse: Sinclair describes the muse as an unpredictable force that doesn't adhere to schedules. She metaphorically states, "the muse has not arrived to me yet," emphasizing the spontaneity of inspiration ([07:04]).
• Connection to Wonder: For Sinclair, poetry is the closest medium to experiencing wonder, intertwining personal memories with universal themes.
• Memories as Inspiration: The poem was inspired by childhood experiences of gardening with her mother, symbolizing nurture and growth.

Quote: "When I think of wonder, poetry is the thing that brings me closest to wonder." ([07:04])

2. Transitioning from Poetry to Memoir Writing [08:56 - 10:32]

Helen Walters shifts the discussion to Sinclair’s memoir, contrasting it with her poetic work.

Key Insights:

• Structured Creativity: Unlike poetry, writing a memoir requires meticulous planning, including chapter organization, character development, and narrative flow.
• Lessons Learned: Sinclair describes writing her memoir as a "lesson in humility" due to the disciplined effort it demanded, contrasting the fluid nature of poetry.
• Editorial Process: While her poetry often required minimal editing, the memoir involved comprehensive feedback, illustrating the different demands of each literary form.

Notable Quotes:

• "Writing the memoir was a lesson in humility because I really had to sit and work at it every day." ([09:26])
• "When I wrote the memoir, my editor said, oh, this is beautiful, but we have some notes." ([09:45])

3. Acknowledgment and Recommendations [10:32 - End]

The session concludes with Walters expressing high regard for Sinclair's work and recommending her memoir to listeners.

Final Thoughts: Sinclair’s dual expertise in poetry and memoir writing showcases her versatility as a writer, adept at both spontaneous and structured storytelling. Her ability to infuse personal experiences with broader existential themes offers listeners a profound and relatable narrative.

Quote: "I highly recommend everyone get Safiya's memoir immediately, if not sooner." ([10:07])

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Conclusion

The episode seamlessly blends Safiya Sinclair’s poetic artistry with a deep dive into her creative processes and literary endeavors. Listeners gain an intimate understanding of Sinclair's inspirations, the delicate balance between spontaneity and structure in writing, and her dedication to capturing the essence of wonder through both poetry and memoir. "Marigolds" serves as a testament to the enduring power of nature and memory in shaping our perceptions and narratives.

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Additional Production Notes The episode, produced and edited by TED's dedicated team, features contributions from Martha Estefanos, Oliver Friedman, Brian Greene, Lucy Little, Alejandra Salazar, and Tansika Sarmarnivon. The audio mixing was expertly handled by Christopher Faizy Bogan, with further support from Emma Tobner and Daniela Ballarezzo, ensuring a polished and engaging listener experience.

Transcript

[Elise Hu]

You're listening to TED Talks Daily, where we bring you new ideas and conversations to spark your curiosity every day. I'm your host Elise Hu. Today we're bringing you a poem written and performed by poet Safiya Sinclair. She shares that nature is the natural archway to wonder and asks us to consider the fragility and joys of life and to reflect on the enduring presence of our ancestors who have passed before us. And stick around after her performance for a brief Q and A between Safiya and Ted's Head of Media and curation, Helen Walters. This episode is sponsored by Dell introducing the new Dell AI PC powered by the Intel Core Ultra processor. It's not just an AI computer, it's a computer built for AI. That means it's built to help do your busy work for you so you can fast forward word through, editing images, designing presentations, generating code, debugging code, running lots of apps without lag, creating live translations and captions, summarizing meeting notes, extending battery life, enhancing security, finding that file you are looking for, managing your schedule, meeting your deadlines, responding to Jim's long emails, leaving all the time in the world for more you time and for the things you actually want to do. No offense Jim. Get a new Dell AI PC starting at [e-mail] AI PC how those ahead? Stay ahead. This message is brought to you by Apple Card. Each Apple product, like the iPhone 16, is thoughtfully designed by skilled designers. The Titanium Apple Card is no different. It's laser etched, has no numbers and it earns you daily cash on everything you buy, including 3% back on everything at Apple. Apply for Apple Card on your iPhone in minutes, subject to credit approval. Apple Card is issued by Goldman Sachs Bank USA Salt Lake City Branch terms and [e-mail] this episode is sponsored by Upwork. Navigating today's economy well, it's a lot Tariffs, tight budgets, hiring freezes. But if you're trying to build something right now, one of the smartest moves you can make is upwork. Upwork is the hiring platform designed for how business actually works. Today you can find, hire and pay expert freelancers who deliver from day one without blowing your budget or your timeline. Whether you need support with AI, design, admin work or a new marketing strategy, upwork gives you access to top talent without the overhead of full time hires people who get you and your business. Plus, there's no cost to join. Just register to post a job, browse freelancer profiles or book a consultation to get started. They make the entire process easier and more affordable. No subscriptions, no upfront fees. Posting a job is free. You only pay when you hire. Visit upwork.com that's up w o r k.com don't wait.

[Safiya Sinclair]

Marigolds A Letter TO Wonder Dear V, I'm thinking of the garden again. White bougainvillea that made you sing Light anointing the trees, Dew on the leaves the morning wearing your promise like a veil. Here we learnt many names for joy My sisters, my brother and me. Our knees in the soil under the cherry tree Pressing our hands into the dirt for we were holy. Our hair budding, crowns flecked with hibiscus fringe, Anansi silk, oleander milk and the golden herb of our names. Each day we woke in awe to a bouquet of warblers and the two orphaned pups we'd named by closing our eyes and trying to imagine the future. This was as close as we came to prayer, mom said. Our hands in the dirt, Our wants at sea vast and untamable. My heart was still so eager Then my world so green opened under the cherry tree Pushing a packet of marigold seeds into the earth like my mother did her hands so holy. At dawn I watched her search for sea wind and salt air the song of her gone mother coiled inside a shell she pushed so gently into another tomorrow and another Listening to the water Its memory is as close as I come to prayer Daughter warrior wonder now your little voice is on the waves recalling me My knees in the dirt, My heart at sea the marigold's anointing John bellyful mangoes in bloom, their petals holy Fragrant as the day still ahead of me still slipping away to some sweet impossible under this cherry tree Where I know your face and sing your name Holy your hand and my hand rocking you in the arms of my own mother Both of you pressed as tender as a seed into a poem where you might live like marigolds your hour bright your wants bursting A flower grown from fossil A daughter dreamt from the dirt. Thank you.

[Helen Walters]

I mean, that was amazing. So thank you for writing that for us. How unbelievably kind and gracious.

[Safiya Sinclair]

It was my pleasure. Really.

[Helen Walters]

It was so nice of you. But here's something I want to share. So you talked about your mum? Yes, that poem. And your mom is here.

[Safiya Sinclair]

She is here. Ms. Esther Norman.

[Helen Walters]

So we just have to say thank you, Mama. Thank you, thank you, thank you for the beauty of your daughter. Okay. Now I want to ask you a few questions.

[Safiya Sinclair]

Yes.

[Helen Walters]

So you wrote that for us? Which is just an extraordinary gift that you gave to us. But I want to just remind you of something that you said. In that process of, you know, talking about this event and what might happen, you were just like, you know, you're going to write a poem. And then you're like, we were like, well, can we have the text? And when do you think you'll be able to give it to us? You know, we plan. And you were like, well, I don't know when you'll have the poem because I don't know when it will arrive. Tell us about that and tell us about your writing process.

[Safiya Sinclair]

Yes, I mean, I had all the TED people very nervous because, you know, I think everyone had their skills and they were practicing and they were like, safiya, where is the poem? I said, well, the muse has not arrived to me yet. So, you know, for me, when I think of wonder, poetry is the thing that brings me closest to wonder. I wrote my first poem when I was 10. My mother was the person who gave me my first collection of poems. And it was something that felt so transformative, so magical. It to me is this. This kind of spirituality. And so it doesn't always come when you want it to come. And I think a lot of when I talk about poetry, I think, oh, the muse touches my head when she wants to. And so this is kind of what happened with us. And sure enough, one day it came in a fever and the poem had arrived.

[Helen Walters]

So I am a very practical, literal person.

[Safiya Sinclair]

Yes.

[Helen Walters]

So when the.

[Safiya Sinclair]

So, like, when exactly. Yeah, just talk about that moment.

[Helen Walters]

Are you just like, I gotta go. Like, I'm in the supermarket, I gotta go, I gotta go home, I gotta write.

[Safiya Sinclair]

Yeah. I mean, often it's very much like that kind of drop everything. The images are coming, the memories are coming. And this one in particular, this poem really revolves around my childhood and this memory of growing a garden with my mother, growing this garden of marigolds, and that too, being connected to this idea of wonder that nature really is, are really the natural archway to wonder. And so it came from this memory of growing the marigolds with my mom and how that's connected to poetry, to the sea, to rhythm, to music, to meaning, to understanding myself and my place in the universe.

[Helen Walters]

So you wrote the most beautiful memoir, which is a totally different type of writing from poetry, obviously. How do you approach that type of writing where you're writing your life story, you're writing about the things that happen? Is that different? Or what's your writing for that?

[Safiya Sinclair]

Well, it's entirely different. I mean, when I began to write it, you know, you heard me talk about poetry and the way that I write it, and it's like very mystical. It's full of a lot of uncertainty and doubt waiting for the muse. It turns out you can't write a 350 page book that way, right?

[Helen Walters]

No, I am not.

[Safiya Sinclair]

Actually have to sit down and like plan out the chapters and, you know, think about characterization and narrativization and dialogue and scenes and all of this. And so I often said writing the memoir was a lesson in humility because I really had to sit and work at it every day. And also a lesson in being edited because usually I write a poem and I give the poem to my editor and they say, thank you for this poem, you know. And you know, when I wrote the memoir, my editor said, oh, this is beautiful, but we have some notes. And I said, notes?

[Helen Walters]

What?

[Safiya Sinclair]

Luckily for me, when I wrote the poem for Ted, you all were like, no notes, no notes.

[Helen Walters]

Which is very hard for me, an editor, but I had no notes. It's true. It's true. So I highly recommend everyone get Sofia's memoir immediately, if not sooner. Sofia, thank you so very much.

[Safiya Sinclair]

Thank you. Thank you all.

[Elise Hu]

That was Safiya Sinclair at TED Next in 2024. If you're curious about TED's curation, find out [e-mail] curationguidelines and that's it for today's show. TED Talks Daily is part of the TED Audio Collective. This episode was produced and edited by our team, Martha Estefanos, Oliver Friedman, Brian Greene, Lucy Little, Alejandra Salazar and Tansika Sarmarnivon. It was mixed by Christopher Faizy Bogan. Additional support from Emma Tobner and Daniela Ballarezzo. I'm Elise Hu. I'll be back tomorrow with a fresh idea for your feed. Thanks for listening.

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