Ammiel Alcalay

Ammiel Alcalay is the author of CONTROLLED DEMOLITION: a work in four books (Litmus Press, 2025); from the warring factions (Upset Press, 2013); and neither wit nor gold: from then (Ugly Duckling Presse, 2011). He has published translations from Arabic, French, Hebrew, Italian, and Latin. He is also the author two book-length translations of the work of Bosnian poet Semezdin Mehmedinović: Nine Alexandrias (City Lights Publishers 2003) and Saravejo Blues (City Lights Publishers, 2001). 

 

Alcalay’s books of essays and prose include a little history (re:public / Upset Press, 2012); Memories of Our Future: Selected Essays 1982–1999 (City Lights Publishers, 2001); and After Jews and Arabs (University of Minnesota Press, 1992). He is also the author of the novel Islanders (City Lights Publishers, 2010). Alcalay is co-translator of Gaza: The Poem Said Its Piece (City Lights Publishers, 2025) by Nasser Rabbah. 

 

Alcalay teaches at Queens College and The Graduate Center, CUNY, and is founder and general editor of Lost & Found: The CUNY Poetics Document Initiative, a series of student and guest edited archival texts emerging from the New American Poetry.