In this edition of “Village Voice,” inaugural poet Richard Blanco highlighted the anthology What Saves Us: Poems of Empathy and Outrage in the Age of Trump edited by Martin Espada, out Oct. 15, 2019.

Blanco read from two poems that will be included in the anthology, one of his own and one by Naomi Shihab Nye entitled “Gate A-4” from “Honeybee” an excerpt is included below.

Wandering around the Albuquerque Airport Terminal, after learning my flight had been delayed four hours, I heard an announcement: “If anyone in the vicinity of Gate A-4 understands any Arabic, please come to the gate immediately.”

Well—one pauses these days. Gate A-4 was my own gate. I went there.

An older woman in full traditional Palestinian embroidered dress, just like my grandma wore, was crumpled to the floor, wailing. “Help,” said the flight agent. “Talk to her. What is her problem? We told her the flight was going to be late and she did this.”

This episode of “Village Voice” aired on WGBH Boston Public Radio on September 23, 2019.