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UniVerse Celebrates
W.S. Merwin was born in New York City in 1927. From 1949 to 1951 he worked as a tutor in France, Mallorca, and Portugal; for several years afterward he made the greater part of his living by translating from French, Spanish, Latin, and Portuguese. His many awards include the 2005 National Book Award in Poetry for Migration: New and Selected Poems (Copper Canyon, 2005), the Pulitzer Prize in Poetry, the Tanning Prize for mastery in the art of poetry, the Bollingen Award, the Ruth Lily Poetry Prize, as well as fellowships from the Rockefeller and the Guggenheim Foundations and the National Endowment for the Arts. He is the author of dozens of books of poetry and prose; his most recent volume of poems is Present Company (Copper Canyon, 2005). For the past thirty years he has lived in Hawaii.

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About UniVerse

UniVerse embodies a celebration of poetry encouraging dialogue, compassion and peace. UniVerse is dedicated to featuring a laurelled poet from every nation in the world, regardless of territory, and to showcasing the work of poets working in exile and writing in endangered languages through public programs, free curricula and online publication. UniVerse is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization.


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UniVerse of Poetry & Chicago Public Radio

WBEZ - Chicago Public RadioUniVerse of Poetry in partnership with Chicago Public Radio presents a series of events recorded live in their entirety by Chicago Amplified for archiving and broadcast.

UniVerse of Poetry readings and showcases celebrate individuals who demonstrate a consistent dedication and integrity of vision, humanity, innovation and artistry in their writing, increasing the dialogue and significance of poetry within a greater society, nationally and internationally. » listen
UniVerse of Free Expression: A Celebration of International Poetry

Featuring Ofelia Zepeda, Fady Joudah, Kwame Dawes, Valzhyna Mort and a special remembrance of Nadia Anjoman. » listen
In Memoriam: UniVerse Remembers Richard Fammerée

Our dear friend and founder of UniVerse of Poetry, Richard Fammerée, passed away in the early morning of May 5, 2011, after a valiant battle with the devastating illness, ALS. We are so glad that he is free from suffering. We will miss him deeply and always.

He left us with a beautiful daughter, Adéle Fammeree, hundreds of brilliant songs and poems, this website and non-profit foundation, and an awareness of our human magic and interconnectedness. He lived to create from heart and soul, and he mentored and inspired so many of us on his journey.

Richard's nature was one of pure acceptance. He had an uncanny ability to pinpoint and bring out the inner light in all of us, to touch that which is beautiful and allow it to flower — no matter the rank, station, or background, gender, ethnicity, or nationhood — for all of us who connected with him and realized our common humanity through him. He is the nexus through which all our lives have become interwoven in the community that he built at UniVerse of Poetry.

"A Memorial Celebration of the Life and Work of Richard Fammerée" was held Sunday, May 15, at the Chicago Cultural Center. The ceremony took place in Preston Bradley Hall, where many of Richard's dear friends and colleagues attended to reflect on and commemorate his life.

Rest in peace beloved Richard. We will love you always.

Rachel, Adéle, and all your dear friends and loved ones...
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In Memoriam: A Tribute to Mahmoud Darwish

Palestine’s most beloved poet, passed away on August 9, 2008, far too early for all who knew and read him. » read more
UniVerse Celebrates Hissa Hilal

See Saudi Arabian poet Hissa Hilal on ABC News. » read more

Featured Poets

UniVerse is continually expanding and our anthology currently represents poets from 61 nations. Below are the featured poets from our ever-expanding poetic universe. View our entire archive of international poets in Poets by Nation. » read more
Afghanistan is represented by beloved poet Nadia Anjuman, who was murdered in 2005 after publishing her book.
Bhutan
His Holiness Ngawang Tensin, revered poet and teacher of the Drukpa Kagyu Lineage of Buddhism, represents the nation of Bhutan.
India
Represented by Meena Alexander.
Ireland
Represented by Eavan Boland.
Israel
Represented by Agi Mishol.
Jamaica/Ghana
Represented by Kwame Dawes.
Mvskoke/Creek
Represented by Joy Harjo.
Nicaragua
Represented by Daisy Zamora.
Nigeria
Represented by Chinua Achebe.
Nigeria
Represented by Ben Okri.
Palestine
One of the most admired Arab poets of today, Mahmoud Darwish represents Palestine.
Tibet
Represented by Tenzin Tsundue.
Tohono O'odham
Represented by Ofelia Zepeda.
Ukraine
Represented by Ilya Kaminsky.
United States
Represented by Adrienne Rich.
United States
Represented by W.S. Merwin.
Poetry + New Media

UniVerse presents Poetry + New Media, a living archive dedicated to poetry married to music and film, giving voice to exquisite, compelling artists internationally. » see more
Li-Young Lee (United States)

"Echo and Shadow"

© 2004 Li-Young Lee
Ramallah Underground (Palestine)

"Darweesh il hara skit (Tribute to Mahmoud Darwish)"

© 2008 Ramallah Underground
Katja Esson (Germany/United States)

"Poetry of Resilience"


© 2009 Katja Esson
Reza Farmand (Iran/Denmark) and Niloufar Talebi (Iran/United States)

"My Mother Did Not Become Beautiful"



© 2006 The Translation Project

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Affiliates

WBEZ - Chicago Public Radio Blue Flower Arts
Blue Flower Arts
United Nations S.R.C. Society of Writers
Chicago Amplified Chicago Publishers Gallery at the Cultural Center of Chicago, Department of Cultural Affairs
Illinois Humanities Council
Flatfile Galleries Northwestern University Press
DePaul Humanities Center
Chicag Sister Cities Rattapallax Press
TWiN Poetry
Pont des Arts Ensemble Edizioni & Festival Torino Poesia
Affrilachian Poets Northwestern University Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences
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