Join us for a deep dive into the life and work of Lucille Clifton with poet Kazim Ali.
Drawing from research into Clifton’s early manuscripts, late drafts, and children’s literature, Ali presents a study of Clifton from his newest book, Black Buffalo Woman: An Introduction to the Poetry & Poetics of Lucille Clifton (BOA Editions, 2024). Poet Leslieann Hobayan will moderate a conversation with Ali exploring Clifton’s legacy. Presented in partnership with Voices of Our Nations Arts Foundation.
Readings in Kray Hall with a reception to follow in the Viscusi Reading Room.
By attending or participating in this program, you agree to abide by our Community Agreement. Events at Poets House are popular, and seating is first-come, first-seated. We have several seats reserved for people with access needs. If events reach capacity, seating will be available in an overflow viewing room.
About the Poets:
Kazim Ali was born in the United Kingdom and has lived transnationally in the United States, Canada, India, France, and the Middle East. His books encompass multiple genres, including several volumes of poetry, novels, and translations. He is currently a Professor of Literature at the University of California, San Diego. His newest books are a volume of three long poems entitled The Voice of Sheila Chandra and a memoir of his Canadian childhood, Northern Light: Power, Land, and the Memory of Water. Photo by Jesse Sutton-Hough.
Lucille Clifton was a beloved poet, writer, and educator. She won the National Book Award for Poetry, among many other honors.
Leslieann Hobayan is a poet, essayist, activist mom, and host of the podcast, Spiritual Grit. Her chapbook, Divorce Papers: A Slow Burn is out from Finishing Line Press and her poetry manuscript, Jeepney Girl: An Archipelago, was a finalist for the Trio House Press Open. Nominated for a Pushcart Prize and a 2018 Best of the Net, her work has appeared in The Rumpus, Aster(ix) Journal, The Grief Diaries, The Lantern Review, The Mom Egg Review, The World I Leave You: Asian American Poets on Faith and Spirit, and elsewhere.
Voices of Our Nations Arts Foundation (VONA), established in 1999 by writers and activists Elmaz Abinader, Junot Díaz, Victor Díaz, and Diem Jones, is a community-based organization that puts writers of color, their narratives, voices, and experiences at the center of all conversations. VONA supports individual writer growth, creates platforms for community engagement rooted in social justice, and provides workshops and mentors focused on expanding writing opportunities.