For the season finale of Rough Draft, we’re welcoming poet Robin Coste Lewis.   Robin’s blazing intellect and pitch-perfect way with words are no shocker. Her debut poetry collection Voyage of the Sable Venus won the National Book Award in poetry in 2015, the first time a debut collection by an African-American had won the prize (and the first time a debut had won since 1974). She brings it all in this conversation that touches on growing up in Compton and New Orleans, removing the “I” from her writing, and pursuing beauty. Featuring guest poetry performances from Marquesha Babers and Monique Mitchell!   Watch Rough Draft and other Topic shows on the Apple TV app. Go to apple.co/topic to get your free 7-day trial.   Follow Robin Coste Lewis @robincostelewis   Follow Marquesha Babers @LADI3LYRIX   Follow Monique Mitchell @mnqmtchll   Rough Draft is a Topic Original Series.   Hosted by Reza Aslan   Executive Produced by Reza Aslan, David Andreone, Alfredo de Villa, and Safa Samieyazde’-Yazd. Executive Producers for Topic, Ryan Chanatry, Anna Holmes, and Gena Konstantinakos. Production aid from Russell Sperberg.   Music and Theme by Jacob Snider. Sound by Sean Oakley. Editing and mixing by Will Stanton, with additional editing by Blake V.   Twitter | @roughdraftreza   Facebook | Rough Draft with Reza Aslan   Follow Reza @rezaaslan   Email us at [email protected]   For transcripts and full credits, head to https://www.topic.com/rough-draft-podcast   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.