“Poetry doesn’t feed mouths, doesn’t build homes, doesn’t cure systemic ills” yet there are undocumented in America who choose metaphor and the line to make their way in a country that does not recognize them. These poets write on eros, silence, humor—and, yes, of their experiences of being “illegal.” On May 24, 2022, the Fellows of the Undocupoets will read poems and discuss the role of poetry in this highly politicized sphere; how they arrived at it; and what is omitted in the public imagination of undocumented Americans.

The Undocupoets is an organization whose mission is to promote the work of poets undocumented in the U.S., and raise consciousness about the structural barriers that they face in the literary community. In 2015, Undocupoets successfully worked with ten renowned first-book poetry contests to update their submission guidelines, all of which required some form of immigration status, to reflect more inclusive publishing. As of 2017, the Undocupoets offer competitive annual grants of $500 to two poets, with no strings attached.

To register, please click this link.