Two Poems by Francis Ponge
(These are the pear-trees that are given to you in today’s human terms.) Look how the pear-trees want to say themselves today. More
The PEN Ten with Idra Novey
Translating the words of the writers I most admire has always felt more daring to me than coming up with words of my own. It is such a complex… More
Amos Oz Reading at the 48th International PEN Congress
"Having to read it to you in English translation feels rather like making love through a blanket." More
PEN America’s Activist Guide to AWP 2017
PEN America has put together a guide to all events taking place at this year's Association of Writing Professionals (AWP) conference focusing on activism or action. More
How African Spirits Were Born
Miren harboured great anger and resentment. Finally overwhelmed by it, he decided to kill his brother and thus be recognised as the sole, undisputed ruler of the empire! More
How to Eat a Forest: In Two Acts
At times land was sold by the agent/ broker to a relatively poor immigrant, and subsequently offered by the politically connected seller to a prominent national government official. This… More
The Meanings of Yellow
Yellow has always caused me a certain amount of discomfort, perhaps because of its relation to sickness, to fear and despair. It also evokes power and the riches of… More
Night Walk
I think of everything there is that exists / and how little we know of it all / but mostly I think / of your sex / and your… More
A Poet’s Return: Pavel Šrut’s Worm-Eaten Light
"For 10 years after Worm-Eaten Light was banned, Pavel couldn’t write poetry even if he’d wanted to because it had lost its meaning in new reality of normalization. Through… More