Podcast Summary: Kevin Young on His Book “Night Watch,” Inspired by Death and Dante (The New Yorker Radio Hour – Sept 16, 2025)

Episode Overview

In this episode, David Remnick sits down with Kevin Young—acclaimed poet, editor, and anthologist—to discuss his latest poetry book "Night Watch." The conversation explores the book's complex engagement with history, music, grief, and the influence of Dante's "Divine Comedy," as well as Young's treatment of fascinating historical figures and contemporary questions of art, politics, and memory.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Kevin Young's Literary Journey and Themes (00:14–01:51)

• Prolific Career & Thematic Throughlines:
  Remnick highlights Young's many roles: New Yorker poetry editor, anthologist (notably of grief), and author dealing with blues and the Black experience.
• Night Watch’s Core Themes:
  Young notes that “Night Watch” focuses on loss and music—this time drawing more from spirituals than from blues or jazz. The book is rooted in Louisiana, an ever-present place in his work due to his family history.
  • “It thinks about loss, but it also thinks about music… And it starts in Louisiana, which is definitely a theme of my book.” (01:16–01:51)

2. Grappling with Dante & Darkness (01:51–03:55)

• Dialogue with Dante:
  Tackling Dante is a bold move, and Young positions him as a literary guide more than a rival.
  • “He [Dante] gave a framework for me to… frame it as a journey rather than a morass, you know? Dante is kind of my guide through it in that way.” (02:00–02:52)
• Pandemic Parallels:
  Young says revisiting his work during the pandemic evoked Dantean darkness. The book became a poetic journey through that experience.

3. Reading from "Darkling"—On Mourning & Language (03:55–05:08)

• Poem Excerpt: “Ledge” from ‘Darkling’
  Young reads a section reflecting on loss, communication after death, and inherited wisdom from his mother.
  • “No use telling the dead what you've learned / since they've learned it too. / ... It's like a language loss can be learnt only by living there.” (03:59–05:08)

4. The Role of Humor (05:08–06:06)

• Finding Humor in the Dark:
  Remnick praises Young’s ability to be funny within philosophical poetry. Young affirms humor is embedded in both Dante and Black musical traditions.
  • “Sometimes I want to make you laugh in the midst.” (05:32–05:51)
• Early Poetry:
  Young reflects humorously on his solemn first poems—about the sea, written in Kansas.

5. Family, History, and the African American Tradition (06:06–06:58)

• Turning to His Roots:
  Young describes how writing about family stories and the cadences of Louisiana speech shaped his voice. He underscores the importance of the Black church in searching for justice and hope.

6. Spotlight: Millie and Christine McCoy, the Two-Headed Nightingale (06:58–11:44)

• Historical Poetics:
  Young dedicates much of "Night Watch" to Millie and Christine McCoy, conjoined twins born enslaved, displayed as a spectacle, and later renowned for their singing.
  • “Their harmonies were incredibly close, as you can imagine, and were reportedly just incredible.” (08:49–09:08)
• Research Methods:
  Young sought their self-published pamphlets for direct perspectives. He wanted to see how these women wrote themselves into existence.
• Poem Excerpt—Evolution of Voice:
  Young reads from his poem “Two Headed Nightingale,” giving both the medicalized (italicized) and personal voices of the McCoys.
  • “Each of our hands a language / eight limbed, two headed, we own many tongues.” (11:20–11:44)

7. Poetry, History, and Political Pressure (14:40–19:10)

• On Being an Institutional Artist:
  Remnick notes Young’s institutional engagement in museums and libraries, raising questions about censorship and the politicization of history.
• Poetry as Living History:
  Young contrasts poetry’s ability to illuminate history with nonfiction’s sometimes static approach. He references his book "Bunk" and how the country’s relationship with “fakery” only worsened.
  • “How do we get past it?” (16:16–16:35)
• Poets Grappling with the Present:
  Young asserts that poets feel historical pressure, especially during the pandemic, embodying centuries of testimony.
• The New Yorker Centennial Anthology:
  Young discusses editing the anthology for the magazine's 100th anniversary, charting poetry’s engagement with history from Hughes to today.

8. The Political in Poetry (17:57–19:10)

• Are Poems More Political Now?
  Remnick asks if submissions are more political; Young observes poets increasingly and more successfully grapple with collective crises and justice.
  • “For a long time... people would say, can poetry be political? …I’d be like, what are you talking about, Mr. Dante? That’s a very political poem.” (18:21–18:39)
• The Black Poetic Tradition:
  Young notes that African American poetry has always been political, reflecting on justice, loss, and hope.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Loss and Language:
  “It’s like a language loss can be learnt only by living there.”
  — Kevin Young, reading from “Ledge” (04:24)

• On Dante as a Guide:
  “You can’t write about hell and be only. So how do you write about it and frame it as a journey rather than a morass?”
  — Kevin Young (02:17)

• On Humor in Poetry:
  “Sometimes I want to make you laugh in the midst.”
  — Kevin Young (05:44)

• On Millie and Christine McCoy:
  “Each of our hands a language eight limbed, two headed, we own many tongues.”
  — Kevin Young, from “Two Headed Nightingale” (11:35)

• On Poetry and Politics:
  “For a long time… people would say, can poetry be political? …I’d be like, what are you talking about, Mr. Dante? That’s a very political poem.”
  — Kevin Young (18:21–18:39)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Intro & Kevin Young’s background – 00:14–01:16
• Themes in "Night Watch" – 01:16–01:51
• Dante, Darkness & Literary Influence – 01:51–03:55
• Reading from “Darkling” – 03:59–05:08
• Humor in Poetry & Early Work – 05:08–06:06
• Family & Black Traditions – 06:06–06:58
• Millie & Christine McCoy—History & Poem – 06:58–11:44
• Institutional Work & Censorship – 14:40–16:14
• Poetry as Political & Historical Witness – 17:57–19:10
• Closing Remarks – 19:10–19:15

Tone & Language

The episode balances intellect and warmth, with Young’s humor and depth matched by Remnick’s curiosity and respect. The discussion moves from personal loss to cultural history to the ever-political nature of poetry, always colored by specific, vivid language and lived experience.

For New Listeners

This episode is a rich dive into how poetry can be both intensely personal and expansively historical. Young’s candid reflections, evocative readings, and observations about the role of the poet in our current moment make this a must-listen for anyone interested in literature, history, or the Black experience in America.