This exhibit features Swem’s collection of the papers of Reetika Vazirani (1962-2003) and celebrates the publication in January 2010 of her third book of poetry, Radha Says.  An Indian-born poet who grew up in suburban Maryland, Vazirani published two books of poetry during her lifetime.  Writer-in-residence at William and Mary during the 2002-2003 academic year, Vazirani tragically died in July 2003, along with her two-year-old son Jehan, whose father was the Pulitzer-Prize-winning poet Yusef Komunyakaa. 

The items in this exhibit illustrate several aspects of a poet’s work.  The five drafts of a poem show the hard work and constant refining needed to turn an idea into a polished poem.  The materials from workshops and readings demonstrate the struggle of a young poet to have her work recognized and make a living as a poet.

The exhibit includes a note from Vazirani to her friend E. Ethelbert Miller.  He gave Swem Vazirani’s letters to him and put us in contact with Heaa Vazirani-Fales, who generously gave Swem her daughter’s papers.  We thank them.