#FlashbackFriday to reflections on the power of poetry in civic discourse: Robert Frost’s “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening,” and one of my favorite quotes by President John F. Kennedy:

“When power leads man toward arrogance, poetry reminds him of his limitations. When power narrows the area of man’s concern, poetry reminds him of the richness and diversity of his existence. When power corrupts, poetry cleanses.”

These ideas continue to inspire me today, just as they did when I wrote the inaugural poem, “One Today.”

*COMING SOON: *The Year of Writing with Richard Blanco,* kick-starts with “The Poetics of Protest” in January 2026. Keep an eye on my Workshops page for updates and registration details.

This video was produced by the JFK Library Foundation and the American Writers Museum.