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Breaking the Jaws of Silence: Sixty American Poets Speak to the World
Through the support of PEN Center USA, Iranian American poet and translator Sholeh Wolp has brought together sixty American poets to address the world through poems that not only meditate on the principles of freedom, justice, and tolerance but also boldly and directly address specific countries. Natasha Trethewey, Robert Bly, Rita Dove, Yusef Komunyakaa, Galway Kinnell, Philip Levine, Carolyn Forch, Billy Collins, Jorie Graham, Naomi Shihab Nye, and Quincy Troupe are just some of the poets whose work is gathered in this powerful new collection.
These poets speak out in the tradition of all poets who speak out in uprisings, seeking to change the landscape despite an environment of oppression, torture, and denial of basic human rights. All poems included were gifted to this anthology, which will benefit PEN Center USA's Freedom to Write program.
These poets speak out in the tradition of all poets who speak out in uprisings, seeking to change the landscape despite an environment of oppression, torture, and denial of basic human rights. All poems included were gifted to this anthology, which will benefit PEN Center USA's Freedom to Write program.
- GenresPoetry
154 pages, Paperback
First published February 1, 2012
16 people want to read
About the author
Sholeh Wolpé
16 books52 followersSholeh Wolpé is an Iranian-born poet, playwright and literary translator.
Sholeh's literary work includes five collections of poetry, several plays, three books of translations, and three anthologies. Her most recent book, Abacus of Loss: A Memoir in Verse (Univ. of Arkansas Press, March 2022) is hailed by National Book Award finalist Ilya Kaminsky as a book “that created its own genre—a thrill of lyric combined with the narrative spell.”
Her translations of 12th century Sufi mystic poet, Attar, The Conference of the Birds (W.W. Norton & Co), and 20th century Iranian rebel poet Forugh Farrokhzad, text Sin: Selected Poems of Forugh Farrokhzad (Univ. of Arkansas Press) have garnered awards and established Wolpé as a celebrated literary translator.
Sholeh’s newest musical project is an oratorio, The Conference of the Birds—An Oratorio, composed by Fahad Siadat, and Choreographed by André Megerdichian. It will premiere at the Broad Stage in Los Angeles in June 2022.
Sholeh travels internationally as a performing poet, writer and public speaker and has performed her literary work with world-renowned musicians at Quincy Jones Presents series at The Edye, Skirball Cultural Center Series, Los Angeles Aloud, The Broad Museum, LA County Museum of Art Ahmanson stage, Singapore Literature Festival, UNSW School of Arts and Media theater in Sydney, Jaipur Literature Festival, Kala Khoda Festival in Mumbai, Tasmania Art Center, Brisbane jazz stage, as well as other venues in China, Spain, India, UK, the US.
She has lived in Iran, Trinidad and the UK, and presently divides her time between Los Angeles and Barcelona.
Sholeh's literary work includes five collections of poetry, several plays, three books of translations, and three anthologies. Her most recent book, Abacus of Loss: A Memoir in Verse (Univ. of Arkansas Press, March 2022) is hailed by National Book Award finalist Ilya Kaminsky as a book “that created its own genre—a thrill of lyric combined with the narrative spell.”
Her translations of 12th century Sufi mystic poet, Attar, The Conference of the Birds (W.W. Norton & Co), and 20th century Iranian rebel poet Forugh Farrokhzad, text Sin: Selected Poems of Forugh Farrokhzad (Univ. of Arkansas Press) have garnered awards and established Wolpé as a celebrated literary translator.
Sholeh’s newest musical project is an oratorio, The Conference of the Birds—An Oratorio, composed by Fahad Siadat, and Choreographed by André Megerdichian. It will premiere at the Broad Stage in Los Angeles in June 2022.
Sholeh travels internationally as a performing poet, writer and public speaker and has performed her literary work with world-renowned musicians at Quincy Jones Presents series at The Edye, Skirball Cultural Center Series, Los Angeles Aloud, The Broad Museum, LA County Museum of Art Ahmanson stage, Singapore Literature Festival, UNSW School of Arts and Media theater in Sydney, Jaipur Literature Festival, Kala Khoda Festival in Mumbai, Tasmania Art Center, Brisbane jazz stage, as well as other venues in China, Spain, India, UK, the US.
She has lived in Iran, Trinidad and the UK, and presently divides her time between Los Angeles and Barcelona.
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June 15, 2014"This collection transforms the motto e pluribus unum into verse. Iranian American poet Sholeh Wolpé brought together sixty American poets in the poetic tradition of protest. Like a crystal hanging in the sun, they reflect and refract the principles of freedom and human rights in myriad directions." - Abigail Heiniger, Wayne State University
This book was reviewed in the May 2014 issue of World Literature Today. Read the full review by visiting our website: http://bit.ly/1vo8bVt
This book was reviewed in the May 2014 issue of World Literature Today. Read the full review by visiting our website: http://bit.ly/1vo8bVt
Displaying 1 of 1 review