Poetry and Literature
“I ask them to take a poem and hold it up to the light like a color slide...”  Billy Collins    Read poem

Poet Laureate, Juan Felipe Herrera

Herrera was renewed by Acting Librarian of Congress David S. Mao to serve a second term as the 21st Poet Laureate. He took up his duties on September 1st, 2016, and launched his Poet Laureate online project, “The Technicolor Adventures of Catalina Neon,” the following month. Herrera’s other second-term projects include the “Laureate Lab—Visual Wordist Studio” in Fresno, CA, and a program with high school teachers, “Wordstreet Champions and Brave Builders of the Dream,” in Chicago, IL.
More About Juan Felipe Herrera|   Past Poets Laureate

The Technicolor Adventures of Catalina Neon

“The Technicolor Adventures of Catalina Neon” is a bilingual, illustrated poem created by U.S. Poet Laureate Juan Felipe Herrera and artist Juana Medina. This poem, presented online at Read.gov, will feature contributions by second and third grade students and their elementary school librarians from across the country. We invite you to participate and help tell Catalina Neon’s story. 

Visit the Catalina Neon website

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Poetry of America

This series was launched as part of the Center’s 75th Anniversary celebration. Through two features, “Poetry of American Identity” and “Poetry of American History,” leaders in the literary field explore how poetry connects to the following themes: immigration and migration, work and industry, social change, and peace and war.

Visit the Poetry of America website

Spotlight on U.S. Hispanic Writers

This series features emerging and established American poets and prose writers of Hispanic descent who write predominantly in English. In each segment the featured poet or writer participates in a moderated discussion with a member of the Library's Hispanic Division and reads from his or her work.

Listen to all audio interviews

Conversations with African Poets and Writers

Launched in the fall of 2011 with Ali Mazrui, who gave a talk on the state of contemporary African literature, this series (presented here as webcasts of past programs) has followed with readings/discussions with emerging and established novelists, poets, and short story writers from around the Continent.

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Interview Series

As part of the Poetry and Literature Center’s 75th Anniversary, this new series features emerging and established literary writers in a dynamic and thought-provoking conversation.

“The Notion of Life and Art as Constant Performance”: An Interview with Dorothea Lasky

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Upcoming Events

FEBRUARY 7 at 7 PM
The Life of a Poet: Poet Brenda Shaughnessy will discuss her work with Ron Charles, editor of The Washington Post's Book World.
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FEBRUARY 14 at 4 PM
International Literature: Poet and translator, Forrest Gander will read from his new book, Then Come Back: The Lost Neruda and participate in a discussion with Chilean-born author Marjorie Agosín and the Library's Georgette Dorn.
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FEBRUARY 16 at 6:30 PM
International Literature: Maltese poet and fiction writer, Immanuel Mifsud will read and discuss his work with the Library's Lucia Wolf.
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