Celebrate National Poetry Month!
Two nationally known award-winning poets read from their new works and talk about their influences and passions. Henri Coles explores the formality and density of the sonnet with its glorious layers of emotion with a contemporary twist in his…
Berkeley Poetry Slam
A 25-year landmark and staple of Berkeley culture, Berkeley Slam at the Starry Plough Pub on Shattuck is the longest-running Slam on the West Coast: a medley of great art, good food/beer and great vibes! Tickets are $10.
New Works from Barbara Tomash, Joan Baranow and Dominican MFA Writers
Join Barbara Tomash and Joan Baranow reading from their new poetry collections. Dominican MFA students and alums will also share brief excerpts from new works. This is a free event.
Crossing the Finish Line: New Books from SJSU MFA Faculty, Steinbeck Fellows, and Students
What does it take to get beyond outlines and sh*tty first drafts to a finished manuscript? And, from there, how do you make it across the finish line to publication? Five San José State University faculty members, students, and Steinbeck Fellows…
Pursuing the Impossible: Poetry and the Art of Translation
Voltaire once claimed, "It is impossible to translate poetry. Can you translate music?" If that's true, these talented translators have certainly achieved the impossible—in this session, they'll share insights into how they did so. Olivia…
Poetry and the Archives of History
Many of us, when faced by stacks of dusty documents or faded photographs, might leave the work to the archivists—or consign the mess to the recycling bin of history. In this session, we'll hear from those who instead look at archives and envision…
Poetry at the End of the World
Explore themes of apocalypse, survival, and hope with this power-packed panel. It certainly feels like we're all Alive at the End of the World right now. That's also the title of Saeed Jones' latest collection of poetry, in which he explores…
Poetry and Fiction: The Artist’s Influence
The first time most American readers heard Selby Schwartz's name was when her debut novel After Sappho was nominated for the 2022 Booker Prize. How lucky are we to have her living right here in California? Schwartz's paean to early twentieth-century…
“We Read in Order to Come to Life”: Grief, Joy, and the Magic of Literary Form
How do writers assemble words in a way that lifts them beyond their literal meaning to speak what can’t really be said? These three writers are masters. In her novel Checkout 19, Claire-Louise Bennett (whose words are quoted in this program’s…
Let Her Tell It: Black Women Writing on the Body and Mind
Many Black women have a complex relationship with their bodies. Historically their bodies have been racialized, hypersexualized, exoticized, abused, exploited for labor and othered. Stressors in their lives affects physical and mental health.…