Join us Wednesday, April 22 at 6pm to celebrate Poetry Month with local and renowned author Kaveh Akbar. At this event, Kaveh will discuss his poetry-writing process, the inspiration behind his poem featured in Ink Knows No Borders, and will conclude with a Q&A and book signing.

Kaveh Akbar is a New York Times bestselling author and award-winning poet, best known for his novel Martyr!—a National Book Award finalist and one of the New York Times Ten Best Books of the Year.  Kaveh’s work has appeared in major publications including The New Yorker and The Paris Review. A recipient of numerous honors, including a Guggenheim Fellowship and multiple Pushcart Prizes, Akbar teaches at the University of Iowa and serves as poetry editor of The Penguin Book of Spiritual Verse: 110 Poets on the Divine. 

Ink Knows No Borders: Poems of the Immigrant and Refugee Experience is a 2019 poetry anthology edited by Patrice Vecchione and Alyssa Raymond, featuring 64 poems by young adult immigrants and refugees, including Kaveh, that explore themes of identity, displacement, racism, and resilience.

Akbar’s books can be pre-ordered through Sidekick Coffee & Books and picked up at the event. Limited quantities of the books will be available for purchase at the event and pre-ordering ahead of the event is ideal.

This event will be held in room 4191 at North Liberty City Hall (360 N Main St.). Contact Nick or Kayla at the North Liberty Library with questions.