Apollo

The prominent poet and Pulitzer-prize finalist Elizabeth Alexander initially published “Apollo” (1992) in Poetry; the poem also featured in The Poetry Anthology, 1912-2022 (2002). Critics consistently laud Alexander’s poetry for its rich use of culture, allusion, and historical characters and references. “Apollo” is no exception, written in the wake of the Civil Rights Movement and during the Apollo 11 mission to space. Alexander, who often writes about the experiences of people of color in America, is not afraid to take on challenging topics surrounding race, gender, and politics.

“Apollo” is a unique addition to Alexander’s poetry oeuvre as it’s told through the perspective of a child in the present tense. Alexander, who was about seven when the Apollo 11 mission occurred, may have written the poem from her own memory. Regardless, the child’s point of view offers an honest, stark, and heartbreaking perspective on race and discrimination in 1960s America.

Poet Biography

Elizabeth Alexander was born in Harlem, New York in 1962. The daughter of Clifford Alexander Jr., a former United States Secretary of the Army and Equal Employment Opportunity Commission Chairman, Alexander grew up in Washington, D.C. Alexander holds high academic honors, including degrees from Yale, Boston University, and a PhD from the University of Pennsylvania.