About this Event
Through deep attention and thoughtful language, at its best, poetry makes room for revelations that transcend headlines of geopolitical conflicts and cultural battles. Poetry urges us to inhabit a more contemplative realm of existence, however mysterious, and to observe how we are miraculously convened on Earth. This landmark reading gathers prominent American writers whose essays and poetry instigate greater awareness of our spiritual journeys and the clarity of vision we seek.
- Date: Thursday, Nov. 12, 2026
- Reception 6–7 p.m.
- Panel 7–8 p.m.
- At the Refectory at Vanderbilt University–New York City
- Entrance: 440 W. 21st St.
This panel will be moderated by Major Jackson, Professor of English & Director of Creative Writing, and Gertrude Conaway Vanderbilt Chair in the Humanities.
Panelists
Pádraig Ó Tuama, Professor in the Practice of Spirituality, Yale University & Host of Poetry Unbound
Tracy K. Smith, Boylston Professor of Rhetoric and Oratory, Harvard University & Former U.S. Poet Laureate
Kevin Young, Rosenkranz Writer-in-Residence, Yale University, & Poetry Editor of The New Yorker
Event venue & nearby stays
Vanderbilt University–New York City, 440 West 21st Street, New York, United States
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