Poetry Speakers

From canonical greats to up-and-coming powerhouses, these poet speakers enlighten audiences with lyrical performances and inspirational looks at the writing process.

Cathy Park Hong

Award-winning poet and New York Times-bestselling author of Minor Feelings

Robin Coste Lewis

National Book Award-winning poet, author of Voyage of the Sable Venus

Donovan Livingston

Educator, poet, and author of Lift Off

Ian Manuel

Advocate for criminal justice reform, poet, and motivational speaker

Ocean Vuong

Poet and author of On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous

More Poetry Speakers

Dr. Joshua Bennett

Award-winning poet and scholar of the spoken word

Rita Mae Brown

Activist and bestselling author of Rubyfruit Jungle

Jennifer Clement

Former President of PEN International and author of Gun Love

Olivia Gatwood

Poet, educator, and author of Life of the Party

Carlos Andrés Gómez

Poet, speaker, educator and advocate for healthy masculinity

Ha Jin

National Book Award-winning novelist, international bestseller, and two-time winner of the PEN/Faulkner Award for Fiction

Kelly Link

MacArthur “Genius Grant” fellow, writer of celebrated short stories and The Book of Love

Wendy McClure

Author of The Wilder Life

Leila Mottley

Award-winning author of Oprah’s Book Club selection Nightcrawling and former Youth Poet Laureate of Oakland

Alora Young

Spoken word poet and author of Walking Gentry Home

Javier Zamora

Memoirist, poet, and author of Solito, and a winner of the 2023 American Book Award.