america

Claudia Rankine reads from Don't Let Me Be Lonely (2004).

Paul Zimmer reads from The Republic of Many Voices (1969), along with poems that would be published in The Zimmer Poems (1976) or remain uncollected. Making use of persona, narrative, and humor, he addresses topics such as childhood, identity, and mortality.

Solmaz Sharif reads poems from her collection Look (2016). This reading was originally given with Danniel Schoonebeek as part of the Morgan Lucas Schuldt Memorial Reading Series.

Julie Iromuanya reads from her novel Mr. and Mrs. Doctor (2015) as well as from an unpublished novel. This reading was originally given with Karen Brennan. 

Claudia Rankine reads from and discusses Citizen (2014). This reading incorporates artwork included in Citizen as well as other visual materials, including additional works by artists featured in Citizen and the video essay "Situation 8" by Claudia Rankine and John Lucas. 

Camille Rankine reads poems from Incorrect Merciful Impulses (2016), as well as uncollected poems. This reading was originally given with Ocean Vuong.

Reginald Dwayne Betts reads from his poetry collection Bastards of the Reagan Era (2015), along with one uncollected poem.

Giancarlo Huapaya gives a gallery performance related to the exhibit BirúPirúPerú: Collective Projects of Peruvian Visual Poetry, on display at the Poetry Center from August 21 to November 22, 2017. His performance makes use of the inaugural addresses of nine United States Presidents, from Richard Nixon to Donald Trump. 

Farid Matuk reads poems from The Real Horse (2018), along with one poem, "Scale Up," that would later appear in the award-winning artist book, Redolent (2022), a collaboration between Matuk and visual artist Nancy Friedemann-Sánchez. This reading was originally given with Jane Miller.

Marwa Helal reads poems from her first two full-length collections, Invasive Species (2019) and Ante Body (2022). This reading was given alongside Marcelo Hernandez Castillo as part of the Morgan Lucas Schuldt Memorial Reading Series.

Alison Hawthorne Deming reads poems focused on animals, humans' relationship with the natural world, and the political landscape of post-2016 America. These poems come from The Gift of Animals: Poems of Love, Loss, and Connection (2025), edited by Deming, and her sixth collection of poetry, Blue Flax & Yellow Mustard Flower (2025). This reading was originally given with Sally Ball.