Thank you so much, Annie.
Lena Khalaf Tuffaha's literary ancestors
include Mahmoud Darwish, June Jordan, Edward Said,
Naomi Shihab Nye.
Her love of writing began at her grandparents' house
in her grandmother's garden and her grandfather's library.
This was in Amman, where her grandfather was
the poet laureate of Jordan.
Her background is Palestinian, Jordanian, Syrian.
That means that during every moment of her life,
somebody she loves has lived in a war zone.
How does a poet speak out against the deliberate
obliteration of whole cities, whole cultures?
Lena Khalaf Tuffaha shows us.
She brings to her work the full range of human emotion,
refusing to allow occupying forces to wipe out
the humanity of any people.
Her poems are as intricately crafted
as traditional Palestinian embroidery.
She's won many awards.
And I'll mention one.
Her newest book, Something About Living,
won the National Book Award in Poetry.
That well-deserved recognition has allowed her voice
to reach many, many readers at a crucial moment in history.
Lena and her beloved Naseem have raised three daughters--
Raya, Reema, and Renda, who are now brilliant young citizens
of the world.
She knows that not every parent has had that privilege.
That is part of what makes Lena's poetry
life giving and essential.
Please welcome Lena Khalaf Tuffaha.
[APPLAUSE]