Hello, everyone, and welcome.
Welcome to tonight's event where we
will hear from two distinguished faculty in the University
of Arizona's MFA program, Aurelie Sheehan and Farid
Matuk.
I'm Tyler Meier, and I work as the executive director
at the University of Arizona Poetry Center.
On behalf of the Center, I welcome everyone
who's here this evening.
Thanks for coming.
I have a couple of quick announcements before we begin.
There are books available for purchase
after tonight's reading up at the front.
You will note that the holidays are coming very soon,
and who among us does not like to give a signed book
to a person that we love?
Such an act is a sign of order in the world, much
like having a small hummingbird pause in your hand,
or recognizing that a field of timothy grass
could be a thousand small, vintage, tiny microphones
recording the sky.
May our world have such order as this in it.
Sam Ace will introduce Farid, and Cybele Knowles
will introduce Aurelie.
Sam is the author of three poetry collections including
Normal Sex, Home in three days.
Don't wash, and most recently, Stealth from our very
own Chax Press, co-authored with Maureen Seaton.
He's published widely in many literary journals,
and he serves on the board of directors for POG.
Farid will read first, so I'll welcome Sam
up here to introduce him.
Sam.
[APPLAUSE]