Robert Pinsky

The ghazal is an ancient Persian form of verse consisting of rhyming couplets and a refrain, with each line sharing the same meter. The form is ancient, originating in 6th century Arabic verse and popularized by Jalal al-Din Muhammad Rumi in the 13th century and Hafez in the 14th century. Ghazals continue ... (more)to inspire and delight in the 21st century. In style and content, they have proven capable of an extraordinary variety of expression around central themes of love and separation. Join us for an evening of contemporary ghazals featuring Governor-General’s Award winner Lorna Crozier, Trillium and Governor General’s Award nominee Rob Winger, Saskatchewan Book Award winner Sandra Ridley, and former United States Poet Laureate Robert Pinsky, with music by the M E L M'RABET Quartet connecting the present and the past. Tickets $15 / $10 reduced. Free for festival members.

Robert Pinsky, poetry editor of Slate, served an unprecedented three terms as U.S. Poet Laureate. His awards include the William Carlos Williams Prize, the Italian Premio Capri, and the Manhae Prize. He is also one of the few members of the American Academy of Arts and Letters to have appeared on The ... (more)Simpsons. Intense verbal music with a jazz feeling; invention against the grain of expectation; intelligence racing among materials with the variety of a busy street—these have been the qualities of his work since Sadness and Happiness in 1975. We celebrate the publication of his Selected Poems with a reading and conversation on the craft. Tickets $10 / $5 reduced. Free for festival members.

For Poetry Month, we've chosen Robert Pinsky's ambitious translation of Dante's Inferno to read and discuss. Mr Pinsky, a former Poet Laureate of the United States, will be joining us via SKYPE at Red River Theatre to discuss his work! All lovers of poetry--and all lovers of Internet magic--should join ... (more)us for this unusual event. (In the Screening Room.)

A few tickets to 12th Night still remain! Remember: 12th Night patrons also receive an invitation to an exclusive private party in March 2010 with internationally renowned author Salman Rushdie! To become a 12th Night patron, simply add to your ticket purchase a gift that brings your 12th Night investment ... (more)to $1,000 or more. Join us for this decade-long tradition of a magical, merry evening combining the best poetry and poetry readers from around Atlanta with good food and lovely company on a festive midwinter evening. Since the first memorable 12th Night Revel was held 10 years ago, this signature event of the Manuscript, Archives, and Rare Book Library at Emory has become an unforgettable way to celebrate the spirit of poetry on a festive midwinter evening. Celebrating a decade of phenomenal growth for MARBL with us will be special guest Robert Pinsky, a three-time U.S. Poet Laureate who will preside over an evening of “essential pleasures” of poetry reading at the Piedmont Driving Club. We hope you will join us for a wonderful meal, convivial company, and poems read aloud by Pinsky and our guests from his latest book, Essential Pleasures: A New Anthology of Poems to Read Aloud. It’s an evening you will long remember – and all proceeds benefit one of Atlanta’s cultural treasures, Emory’s world-renowned Manuscripts, Archives, and Rare Book Library. Past revels have been unforgettable occasions of magic and merriment. Buy your ticket to 12th Night today, and look forward to an evening of the “essential pleasures” of poetry on January 30!

Two years ago, we were priveliged to host the national book release of Robert Pinsky's "First Things to Hand", a book of eleven poems published by Sarabande Books. Now we welcome the distinguished poet and translator for a reading from his new collection "Gulf Music", of which "First Things to Hand" ... (more)is one of three major sections. "Gulf Music" is perhaps Pinsky's most openly political collection of poems, ranging heartbreakingly from major wars to personal history and beyond. This event is free and open to the public.