Poetry and Literature
“I ask them to take a poem and hold it up to the light like a color slide...”  Billy Collins    Read poem

Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry

Tracy K. Smith was appointed by Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden to serve as the 22nd Poet Laureate on June 14, 2017. Smith is the author of four books of poetry, including Wade in the Water (2018) and  Life on Mars (2011), winner of the 2012 Pulitzer Prize for Poetry. Smith was reappointed for a second term on March 22, 2018.
Announcing "The Slowdown with Tracy K. Smith"
More About Tracy K. Smith  |  Past Poets Laureate
American Journal: Fifty Poems for Our Time

Library of Congress Prize for American Fiction

E. Annie Proulx was awarded the Library of Congress Prize for American Fiction on May 2, 2018, and accepted the award at the 2018 Library of Congress National Book Festival on September 1, 2018. Proulx is the author of eight books, including The Shipping News, which received the Pulitzer Prize, the National Book Award, and the Irish Times International Fiction Prize; and Postcards, winner of the PEN/Faulkner award. Her O. Henry Prizewinning story “Brokeback Mountain” was made into an Academy Award-winning film. Proulx will return to the Library of Congress in spring 2019 for a tribute event.
More about E. Annie Proulx  |  Past Winners

From the Catbird Seat – Poetry and Literature Center Blog

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UPCOMING EVENTS

JANUARY 29 at 7:00 PM
Life of a Poet: Poet Ada Limón will discuss her work with Ron Charles, book critic at The Washington Post. Reservations are required.
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FEBRUARY 6 at 7:00 PM
Life of a Poet: Poet Ross Gay will discuss his work with Ron Charles, book critic at The Washington Post. Reservations are required.
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View past events