Kaveh Akbar & Kazim Ali: "Silence and Breath"

Poets Kaveh Akbar & Kazim Ali: "Silence and Breath"

Both Kaveh Akbar and Kazim Ali explore the relationship between poetry and prayer, examining the silence and breath in each lyric. Kaveh Akbar is the author of the chapbook "Portrait of the Alcoholic", and his debut full-length collection is "Calling a Wolf a Wolf". He received the Ruth Lilly and Dorothy Sargent Rosenberg Fellowship from the Poetry Foundation and the Lucille Medwick Memorial Award from the Poetry Society of America. Born in Tehran, Iran, Akbar is the Visiting Professor of Poetry at Purdue University. Poet, essayist, novelist and translator Kazim Ali has published several volumes of poetry including "The Far Mosque", winner of Alice James Books' New England/New York Award; "Sky Ward, The Fortieth Day", and the cross-genre work "Bright Felon: Autobiography and Cities". His latest book of poetry, titled "Inquisition", is forthcoming. He's also authored essay anthologies, including "Orange Alert: Essays on Poetry, Art and the Architecture of Silence". Their introduction and conversation will be moderated by poet and Kundiman fellow Gowri Koneswaran at Folger Theatre in Washington, D.C.