Monday, July 27, 6 – 7 p.m. EST

The task of writing an occasional poem, as Richard Blanco did for President Obama’s inauguration, is often deemed the “kiss of death.”  But why?  Drawing on his experiences as presidential inaugural poet, Blanco will discuss not only the great challenges such poems present, but also the great opportunities they offer to enhance our perspectives on matters of craft such as audience, tension, boundaries, inspiration, and voice.  Through the lens of his inaugural poem, and many other occasional and commissioned poems he’s written, Blanco will share how the lessons he’s learned can serve to improve our more personal poems, as well as consider how these intersect with the more public and civic role poetry can play, and inspire us to write beyond our autobiographical comfort zone.

Chwazi pa Prezidan Obama kòm senkyèm powèt inogirasyon nan istwa Etazini, Richard Blanco is the youngest and the first Latino, immigrant, and gay person to serve in such a role. Born in Madrid to Cuban exile parents and raised in Miami, the negotiation of cultural identity characterizes his four collections of poetry: Kijan pou renmen yon peyi, Vil San Dife, ki te resevwa Pri Pwezi Agnes Starrett nan men University of Pittsburgh Press; Direksyon pou Plaj Mò a, resipyan Pri Beyond Margins nan PEN American Center; epi Ap chèche The Gulf Motel, resipyan Pri Pwezi Paterson ak Pri Thom Gunn. Li te ekri tou memwa yo Pou Nou Tout, Yon Jounen Jodi a: Vwayaj Inogirasyon yon Powèt epi Prens Los Cocuyos la: Yon anfans nan Miami, gayan yon Pri Lambda Literè. Pwezi inogirasyon li “One Today” te pibliye kòm yon liv pou timoun, an kolaborasyon ak ilistratè renome Dav Pilkey. Limit, yon kolaborasyon ak fotograf Jacob Hessler, defye liy divizyon fizik ak sikolojik ki lonbraj Etazini. E dènye liv powèm li a, Kijan pou renmen yon peyi, both interrogates the American narrative, past and present, and celebrates the still unkept promise of its ideals. Blanco has written occasional poems for the re-opening of the U.S. Embassy in Cuba, Freedom to Marry, the Tech Awards of Silicon Valley, and the Boston Strong benefit concert following the Boston Marathon bombings. He is a Woodrow Wilson Fellow and has received numerous honorary doctorates. He has taught at Georgetown University, American University, and Wesleyan University. He serves as the first Education Ambassador for The Academy of American Poets.