Browse Reading by Year

Reading to celebrate the 2010 issue of Persona, the University of Arizona's undergraduate journal of literature and art.

In his first visit to Tucson, Franz Wright reads prose pieces, most of which were unpublished at the time of his reading, as well as several lineated poems. He comments generously on his writing process and friendships with other poets.

Franz Wright discusses a wide range of topics, including Rilke, translation, and the writing life.

In the first reading of the Poetry Center's 50th anniversary year, former Poetry Center Director and University of Arizona Regents' Professor Emeritus Richard Shelton reads from his books The Last Person to Hear Your Voice (2007) and Crossing the Yard (2007).

Sherwin Bitsui reads from his work in English and Navajo as part of a multilingual poetry reading also featuring Alberto Rios (reading in English and Spanish) and Ofelia Zepeda (reading in English and O'odham). The reading includes selections from Water, an artist book created by Karla Elling to commemorate the Poetry Center's 50th anniversary. "Water" features a chainlink of poetry composed and translated by Bitsui, Rios, Zepeda, and Zapotec poet Natalia Toledo.

Ofelia Zepeda reads from her work in English and O'odham as part of a multilingual poetry reading also featuring Alberto Rios (reading in English and Spanish) and Sherwin Bitsui (reading in English and Navajo). The reading includes selections from Water, an artist book created by Karla Elling to commemorate the Poetry Center's 50th anniversary. "Water" features a chainlink of poetry composed and translated by Bitsui, Rios, Zepeda, and Zapotec poet Natalia Toledo.

Alberto Ríos reads from his work in English and Spanish as part of a multilingual poetry reading also featuring Ofelia Zepeda (reading in English and O'odham) and Sherwin Bitsui (reading in English and Navajo). The reading includes selections from Water, an artist book created by Karla Elling to commemorate the Poetry Center's 50th anniversary. Water features a chainlink of poetry composed and translated by Bitsui, Ríos, Zepeda, and Zapotec poet Natalia Toledo.

Rick Moody reads from The Four Fingers of Death (2010).

In his first reading at the Poetry Center since 1969, Gary Snyder reads broadly from his work, including poems from his most recent collection, Danger on Peaks. He ends by reading uncollected newer poems. Snyder also speaks of his time in Japan, his studies of Zen Buddhism, and his friendship with Poetry Center founder Ruth Stephan.

In celebration of the University of Arizona Poetry Center's 50th anniversary, former U.S. Poet Laureate Billy Collins reads his poems, including work from the forthcoming collection Horoscopes for the Dead. He is joined by David Fitzsimmons, Howard Altmann, Jennifer Lee Carrell, and Ernesto Portillo, Jr., reading favorite poems by a variety of authors.

Howard Altmann reads from his books In This House and Who Collects the Days. This reading marks the first public performance of his poem Dandelions.

Michelle Tea reads from an unpublished work characterized by humor and eroticism.

A celebration of the fairy tale, featuring readings from authors included in My Mother She Killed Me, My Father He Ate Me (2010), an anthology of new fairy tales edited by Kate Bernheimer.

In this reading given with Joshua Marie Wilkinson, Kate Bernheimer reads two stories from her collection Horse, Flower, Bird (2010).

In this reading, Joshua Marie Wilkinson reads from a forthcoming book-length poem, "Meadow Slasher."

A group reading celebrating the release of New Poets of the American West (2010).

In this reading, originally given with Ann Cummins, David Wojahn performs poetry from World Tree (2011). Also read is the unpublished poem "Sclera."

In this reading, originally given with David Wojahn, Ann Cummins shares a new short story, unpublished as of February 2011.

Friends, colleagues, and former students of Steve Orlen (1942-2010) gather together to celebrate his life.

Ofelia Zepeda reads primarily from her collections Ocean Power (1995) and Where Clouds are Formed (2008). She also reads from an unpublished essay and from her chapbook Jewed 'I-Hoi/Earth Movements (1997).

For her Next Word appearance with Fred Moten, Rusty Morrison reads from The True Keeps Calm Biding Its Story (2008) and the manuscript of After Urgency (2012). She closes her reading with a new series of poems titled "Necessities" and "Inventions."

Fred Moten reads his sequence "come on, get it!," which would later be collected in The Feel Trio (2014). This performance was given for his Next Word appearance with Rusty Morrison.

Luci Tapahonso reads for the 2011 Poetics and Politics Series. She reads work from several of her books, as well as unpublished poems.

Ana Božičević reads work from Stars of the Night Commute (2009) as well as work that would go on to be collected in Rise in the Fall (2013). This reading was given alongside Kazim Ali as part of the Next Word in Poetry series.

Kazim Ali reads work in several genres, including excerpts from Orange Alert, a collection of essays; The Disappearance of Seth, a novel; and Bright Felon, a memoir; as well as published and new poems. He ends by performing a poem, "Queer Ishmael," composed on the spot. This reading was given alongside Ana Bozicevic as part of the Next Word in Poetry series.

Frances Washburn reads from Elsie's Business (2006) and The Sacred White Turkey (2010).

Keith and Rosmarie Waldrop read from Transcendental Studies (2009) and Driven to Abstraction (2010), respectively.

Willing Davidson discusses the craft of editing. Davidson also reads from An American Type (2010), a novel he shaped from the papers of Henry Roth.

Charles Alexander reads widely from his work as part of the Tucson Lit Press Fest event. He closes with a selection from the ongoing collection Pushing Water, published in 2011 by Cuneiform Press.

Julie Paegle reads from her collection Torch Song Tango Choir, accompanied by dancers John Dahlstrand and Melissa Fitch.

Jason Bredle reads new work, including unpublished poems and poems published in periodicals. This Tucson Lit Press Fest reading with Bredle's fellow New Michigan Press author Emma Ramey focused on humor in poetry.

Emma Ramey, poetry editor of DIAGRAM, reads published and unpublished works. This Tucson Lit Press Fest reading with Jason Bredle focused on humor in poetry.

TC Tolbert reads from his recent Kore Press publication Territories of Folding, accompanied by members of the movement improvisation group Movement Salon.

Poet Christopher Nelson moderates a discussion with the publishers of The Drunken Boat, New Michigan Press/DIAGRAM, and the University of Arizona Press.

Poet Christopher Nelson moderates a discussion of independent publishing with the publishers of Kore Press, Chax Press, and Spork Press.

Laura Tohe reads from Tséyi': Deep in the Rock; Reflections on Canyon de Chelly (2005), which pairs Tohe's texts with images by photographer Stephen E. Strom. Following Tohe's reading, Strom discusses the images contained in the book.

Leslie Marmon Silko reads from The Turquoise Ledge (2010), a memoir. Throughout the reading, Silko provides insightful commentary.

Gerald Vizenor reads a selection of his work and discusses haiku and visionary art. Most poems from this reading can be found in his 2006 collection Almost Ashore.

Roger Bonair-Agard delivers a dynamic performance of poems from his second book, Gully (2010), as well as new work.

Summer resident Harmony Holiday shares her video and audio work.

In a performance given alongside the Poetry Center's 2011 summer poet in residence, Harmony Holiday, poet Matthew Rotando reads poems from The Comeback's Exoskeleton and newer work.

Elizabeth Rollins reads a new short story, "The Baker's Daughter." This reading was given together with the Poetry Center's 2011 Summer Resident in Prose, Mary Jones.

Mary Jones, the Poetry Center's 2011 Summer Resident in Prose, reads a short story, "Dear Wife of Richard." This reading was given together with Elizabeth Rollins.

Barbara Cully reads from her collection That Place Where (2011).

Manuel Muñoz reads from his first novel What You See in the Dark (2011).

Thomas Sayers Ellis reads from The Maverick Room (2005) and Skin, Inc. (2010).

Charles Alexander provides a close reading of Emily Dickinson's work, focusing on the way metrical and sonic qualities transform into poetic dance.

In this reading, originally given with Joni Wallace, Mary Jo Bang reads poems that would go on to be collected in The Last Two Seconds (2015) as well as a segment from her translation of "Canto III" of Dante's Inferno (2012).

Joni Wallace reads primarily from her collection Blinking Ephemeral Valentine and also an unpublished piece accompanied by the guitarist Greg Lewis. This is the first half of a reading which also featured Mary Jo Bang.