Poetry Events

Two Prize-Winning Poets to Read at Library of Congress on Nov. 12

A National Book Critics Circle Award finalist (2003) and a MacArthur fellow (2000) will read their poems at the Library of Congress on Nov. 12. Tony Hoagland, from Houston, Texas, and Lucia Perillo, from Olympia, Wash., will read at 6:45 p.m. in the Montpelier Room on the sixth floor of the James Madison Building, 101 Independence Ave. S.E., Washington, D.C.

Poet Laureate Kay Ryan Will Launch Community College Poetry Project at Library of Congress Reading on Oct. 21

Program begins at 7 p.m. in the Coolidge Auditorium, Jefferson Building, 10 First Street, SE, Washington, DC 20540. The event is free and tickets are not required.

Poets Brigit Pegeen Kelly and J.D. McClatchy To Read at Library of Congress on April 2

The Spring Literary Season continues at the Library of Congress with a reading by poets Brigit Pegeen Kelly and J.D. McClatchy, both past finalists for the Pulitzer Prize in Poetry.

Poet Laureate Chooses Christina Davis and Mary Szybist for 12th Annual Witter Bynner Award and Reading, Feb. 26

Poet Laureate Kay Ryan has chosen two gifted voices in poetry, Christina Davis and Mary Szybist, for the 2009 Witter Bynner Fellowships, and will introduce the poets on Feb. 26 at the Library of Congress.

Poetry at Noon Reading with E. Ethelbert Miller

E. Ethelbert Miller is a literary activist, board chairman of the Institute for Policy Studies (IPS), board member of The Writer's Center and editor of Poet Lore magazine. Since 1974, he has been the director of the African American Resource Center at Howard University. Library staff members Jane Caulton, National Library Services for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, and Eric Smith, Library Services, will join in reading selected pieces. Noon, Feb. 23, Madison Building, Mumford Room, LM 649.

Symposium Marks 250th Anniversary of Robert Burns' Birth

To mark the 250th anniversary of the birth of Robert Burns, Scotland’s national poet, the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress, in collaboration with the Scottish government as part of its Homecoming Scotland 2009 celebration, will present a free public symposium on Burns’ life and work, as well as his impact on America and American culture.

Poetry at Noon Series Reading, Feburary 10

"Love" is the Poetry at Noon theme. Featured poets are Poet-Attorney Edwin Zimmerman of Washington, DC; Kristin Berkey-Abbott of Hollywood, FL; and Judith Offer of Oakland, CA. Whittall Pavilion, noon-1 p.m.

Mark Strand and Charles Wright to Read at the Library of Congress on April 24

Poet Laureate Charles Simic will introduce Mark Strand and Charles Wright in the Montpelier Room, on the 6th floor of the James Madison Building, at 6:45 p.m.

Bob Hicok and Charles Wright, 2008 Bobbitt National Poetry Prize Winners, to Read at Library

The distinguished Rebekah Johnson Bobbitt National Prize for Poetry, created 20 years ago, will be awarded to two poets who teach at universities in Virginia: Bob Hicok of Virginia Tech and Charles Wright of the University of Virginia.

Hicok and Wright will receive the 2008 award and read selections of their work at 8 p.m. on Monday, April 28, in the Montpelier Room on the sixth floor of the James Madison Building, 101 Independence Ave. S.E., Washington, D.C. The program is free and open to the public; no tickets or reservations are needed.

Library of Congress to Celebrate Academy of American Poets' "Poem in Your Pocket Day"

The Library will celebrate the Academy of American Poets’ first national "Poem in Your Pocket Day" with two events on Thursday, April 17, a poetry reading at noon and a web conference from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m.

Library of Congress To Host An Afternoon Of Spanish Poetry

The Hispanic Division of the Library of Congress will host an afternoon of Spanish poetry at 2 p.m. on April 11 featuring poets from Spain, Latin America and the Caribbean. Each poet will read a selection in Spanish, followed by an open discussion in English moderated by Dominican poet Rei Berroa of George Mason University.

The Library of Congress and NEA to Host an Evening of Russian Poetry, April 7

The Library of Congress and the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) will jointly host an evening of Russian poetry on April 7, featuring Evgeny Bunimovich, Elena Fanailova and Yuli Gugolev.

Poets Li-Young Lee and David Kirby to read at the Library of Congress

Reading takes place February 7, 6:45 p.m., Montpelier Room, 6th Floor, James Madison Building.

W.S. Merwin, Winner of the Bobbitt Poetry Prize, Will Read, Oct. 31

Celebrated poet W.S. Merwin will receive the 2006 Rebekah Johnson Bobbitt National Prize for Poetry and read selections of his work at 8 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 31, in the Mumford Room on the sixth floor of the James Madison Building, 101 Independence Ave. S.E., Washington, D.C.

2007 National Book Festival Features Poet Laureate, Award-Winning Poets

View a list of poets scheduled to read and sign books at the National Book Festival on September 29. Webcasts of all readings will be available on the Library's Web site the week following the festival.

Announcing the Fall Literary Season at the Library of Congress

Charles Simic will open the Library's Fall literary season on October 18. Other award-winning poets visiting the Library this season include Marjory Wentworth, James Tate, and Jorie Graham.

Award-Winning Poets to Participate in the 2007 National Book Festival

The Library of Congress has announced the names of nearly 70 authors, illustrators, and poets participating in the seventh annual National Book Festival. Discover which poets will be reading at the Poetry Pavilion.

Poets Dolores Kendrick and Philip Levine to Read at Library on May 24

The Library's final poetry reading of the literary season features D.C. Poet Laureate Dolores Kendrick and poet Philip Levine.

First-Ever Joint Reading By U.S. and British Poets Laureate on May 10

Poets Laureate Donald Hall and Andrew Motion to read at the Library of Congress on May 10.