Two Poems by Erica Hunt
Here a thousand birds dispute / the fresh blood on the sidewalk / the battle line, how it was drawn / how the sides were chosen / had there… More
The PEN Ten with Janet Peery
I would caution us to refrain from spending too much time in articulating [writers'] collective purpose for fear of leaching the blood out of the “uncontrollable mystery on the… More
Series Launch: The PEN Book Report
PEN America launches a new series that asks writers to question the notion of "best of" book lists and share the top five books that inspire them and challenge… More
The Book Report: Fatimah Asghar
I used to have to wash my hands before touching books. In our house, books were sacred—we were not allowed to leave them on the floor or strewn about.… More
PEN Eritrea: Defiance in the Face of Extreme Repression
In the third installment of the PEN World Series, we speak to PEN Eritrea about the free expression challenges and literary traditions of Eritrea. More
Lost Words
My mother held him back by his coattails. "Stay where you are," she whispered into his ear, "the last thing we need is to feel like we're not even… More
The Wrong Side of History
Mike Dawson examines how we talk about gun control and how phrases like being on “the wrong side of history” are missing the point. More
Just As I As
if the other actors believe you’re the king… so I sang / alas, alas for you as “Him,” again, again at the strain of my range. / the King… More
Two Poems by Molly Rose Quinn
My south dies for essential liberty. // They make the mud there. / Was always death. // The house at the end of the mind. / Our school cafeteria… More
The PEN Ten with Sarah Weinman
"I’ve said often that crime fiction in particular is an excellent vehicle for social commentary, because so much of what happens in society has some tie, or root,… More
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