O.B. Hardison Poetry Series

For more than 40 years, the Folger's poetry reading series has brought hundreds of distinguished poets to read from their work on the Folger stage, including Octavio Paz, Gwendolyn Brooks, Allen Ginsberg, W. S. Merwin, Adrienne Rich, Yusef Komunyakaa, James Merrill, Frank Bidart, Robert Pinsky, Derek Walcott, Hayden Carruth, Rita Dove, Seamus Heaney, Sterling Brown, Denise Levertov, June Jordan, Lawrence Ferlinghetti, Sonia Sanchez, and James Dickey. Beginning with the 2010–11 season, it was renamed the O.B. Hardison Poetry reading series in honor of its founder, O. B. Hardison, Jr.

From traditional poetry readings to multimedia presentations to eclectic combinations of lecture, conversation, and performance, the O.B. Hardison Poetry reading series is committed to expanding the contexts in which poetry is experienced. Each year, we present eight to ten poetry events— including a moderated conversation and Q & A—in the Folger’s Elizabethan Theatre, followed by wine receptions and book signings in the Great Hall.

Folger Poetry Board

The Folger Poetry Board is a committee of friends providing significant support to the Folger Shakespeare Library's poetry programs by organizing and sponsoring fundraising and other literary events and by hosting an annual reading by a distinguished author.

  • Gigi Bradford, Chair
  • Jean Bower
  • Edwin P. Conquest, Jr.
  • Christina Daub
  • Harriet Patsy Davis
  • Marifrancis Hardison
  • Joseph Hassett
  • Anita Herrick
  • Sherman Katz
  • Robert C. Liotta
  • Richard Lyon
  • Greg McBride
  • Mary McElveen
  • Barbara Meade
  • Dr. David Morowitz
  • Mary Muromcew
  • Jean Nordhaus
  • Jacqueline Quillen
  • Susan Rappaport
  • Heddy Reid
  • Dr. Marianne Schuelein
  • Joan Shorey
  • Norman Sinel
  • Amy Tercek
  • Nigel Twose
  • David Weisman
  • Mary-Sherman Willis
  • Anne Harding Woodworth

Special poetry events at the Folger

The O.B. Hardison Poetry Series partners with national and community organizations promoting poetry and language throughout the Washington region, and the country. Join us at the Haskell Center or other locations for special readings and celebrations.

District of Literature

The District of Literature is a free, day-long celebration of DC's literary landscape and offerings.

Emily Dickinson Birthday Tribute

The annual Emily Dickinson Birthday Tribute reading, sponsored with the Poetry Society of America (PSA), celebrates Dickinson's fierce and compelling influence on poetry in America.

Poetry-in-Schools

Now in its seventh year, the Poetry-in-Schools program is one of the many programs for teachers and students offered by the Folger. The only such program serving Washington, DC, public school students at the high school level, Poetry-In-Schools strives to introduce students to poetry, encourage new voices, and provide high school students with a college level writing workshop. The program is available at no cost to participating schools.

Shakespeare's Sisters: Five Centuries of Poetry by Women

Shakespeare's Sisters: Five Centuries of Poetry by Women is a free ten-week seminar for selected students in grades 10-12 meeting on Wednesdays from 4-6pm beginning on January 7 and ending March 11, 2015.

Lannan Fellows Program

The Lannan Fellows Program is at the core of Folger Poetry’s mission to develop new audiences for poetry, foster community among young writers, and bridge the gaps between town and gown by bringing students and professors together with an increasingly diverse cross-section of the Washington, DC, community.

Shakespeare's Birthday Sonnet Contest

Each year, the Folger Shakespeare Library invites students in grades 3 through 12 in the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia to submit original sonnets for the annual Shakespeare's Birthday Sonnet Contest.

Before & After

The Folger invites local poets to respond to the Folger Theatre's production of Shakespeare's plays. In Before & After, this unique lyrical communication between genres, the original work of poets explores themes from the plays.

Current season

Upcoming reason

Past seasons

Abbott, Mary–1977 Abinader, Elmaz–11/13/2002 Ackerman, Diane–4/1/2004 Addonizio, Kim–1/11/2010 Ai–1/13/1992 Agoos, Julie–1991 Alexander, Elizabeth–1/29/2001, 10/25/2005 Alexander, Wayne–2/24/1975 Ali, Agha Shahid–3/3/1994 Ali, Kazim–1/24/2006 Ali, Taha Muhammad–3/1/2005 Amichai, Yehuda–9/29/1988, 3/15/1989 Anderson, Laurie–10/31/1995 Andrews, Chris–11/19/2012 Anglesey, Zoe–11/18/1997 Armantrout, Rae–11/10/2008 Antin, David–6/2/1980 Ashbery, John–3/12/1979, 2/19/1988, 2/4/1997, 11/5/2007 Atwood, Margaret–1/30/1972 Ayala, Naomi–2/28/2011

Baca, Jimmy Santiago–11/22/2004 Balaban, John–1/22/1990 Bang, Mary Jo-2/11/2013 Barber, Jennifer–12/3/1998 Beatty, Paul–11/14/1995 Becker, Anne–1/13/1992 Bell, Marvin–10/17/1978 Bellow, Saul–12/1/1989 Berrigan, S. J. Daniel–4/4/1977 Bibbins, Mark–12/3/1998 Bidart, Frank–2/10/1981, 12/9/1993, 10/21/1997, 11/10/2008 Bly, Robert–10/20/1980, 4/14/2003 Boland, Eavan–1/26/1999, 5/21/2007, 3/5/2012 Brathwaite, Kamau–3/25/1997 Braxton, Jodi–2/2/1976 Brock-Broido, Lucie–2/17/1996,12/14/2009 Brodsky, Joseph–10/21/1986 Brook, Peter–9/9/1998 Brooks, Gwendolyn – 4/4/1997 Broumas, Olga–1/11/1980, 3/29/1994 Brown, Sterling–3/9/1982, 3/8/1992 Bryant, Tisa–4/30/2012 Buckley, Christopher–6/12/1997 Burns, Diane–10/30/1986 Burnside, John–3/1/2010

Campo, Rafael–9/18/1997 Carroll, Kenneth–11/16/1993 Carruth, Hayden–1994 Carson, Anne–2/27/1996, 2/4/1997 Cassells, Cyrus–1/25/1995 Castro, Adrian–3/13/2006 Cavalieri, Grace–2/2/1976 Celebration of the Sonnet–4/2/2002 Chang, Tina–1/29/2007 Chang, Victoria–1/29/2007 Chappell, Fred–3/30/1992 Chiang, Fay–10/6/1981 Christopher, Nicholas–2/18/1986 Cisneros, Sandra–4/7/2000 Claire, William–8/1979 Clampitt, Amy–1/12/1986 Clary, Killarney–3/3/1994 Clay, Steve–3/15/2003 Clifton, Lucille–2/8/1970, 11/19/1985, 5/17/1994, 3/19/1998, 2/26/2001, 5/13/2008 Cole, Henri–2/22/1996, 4/2/2007 Coleman, Wanda–11/16/1993 Collier, Michael–11/13/1989 Collins, Billy–4/10/2001, 4/29/2013 Corral, Eduardo C.–9/17/2012 Crase, Douglas–5/8/1984 Creeley, Robert–11/17/1992, 2/14/1995, 3/19/1998

Dao, Bei–5/7/1996 Dargan, Kyle–1/11/2010 Derricotte, Toi–11/19/1990, 1/24/2000 Dhomhniall, Nuala Ni–5/6/1997 Dickey, James–3/18/1974, 1/19/1977, 10/30/1983 Dillard, R.H.W.–1/6/1975, 1/6/1975, 10/25/1994 Dissenting Practices–2/20/2003 Dorgan, Theo–9/19/2011 Dorn, Frank–12/11/1986 Doty, Mark–11/17/1994, 4/24/2008 Dove, Rita–4/22/1986, 1/20/1994, 5/4/2009 Duffy, Carol Ann–4/10/2001 Duplessis, Rachel Blau–1/13/2004

Eady, Cornelius–11/15/1994; 5/4/1999, 10/24/2003 Eberhart, Richard–1/18/1977 Emerson, Claudia–3/16/2009 Engels, John–1/3/1977 Espada, Martin–11/17/1992 Esteves, Sandra–10/30/1984 Everett, Percival–9/21/2004

Fairchild, B.H.–2/11/2013 Fellows, Lannon–2/24/1997, 10/4/1999 Fenton, James–11/8/2011 Ferlinghetti, Lawrence–4/3/1978, 3/13/2000 Finney, Nikky–10/30/2012 Flanders, Jane–12/7/1981 Flint, Roland–5/24/1976, 12/6/1983, 1/19/1989, 10/22/1990 Flynn, Nick–9/29/2008 Forche, Carolyn–11/17/1981, 3/2/1992, 1/24/1995, 5/4/1999, 12/11/2006 Ford, Katie–1/24/2006

Gallagher, Tess–2/1/1982, 11/20/2006 Galvin, Brendan–10/28/1991 Gander, Forrest–3/28/2013 Gardner, John–12/1/1975 Garrett, George–3/1/1970 Gay, Ross–2/11/2008 Gibbons, Reginald –10/22/2004 Gilbert, Sandra–3/23/1999 Ginsberg, Allen–3/7/1977 Girmay, Aracelis–12/5/2011 Gizzi, Peter–1/25/2005 Gluck, Louise–1/5/1981, 3/2/1993, 5/2/2000 Goldbarth, Albert–3/31/1981 Gooch, Brad–4/16/2004 Gottlieb, Darcy–4/8/1976 Graham, Jorie–11/19/1985, 11/19/1990, 12/13/1994, 10/29/1996, 1/24/2006 Gray, Spalding–11/16/1994 Gregerson, Linda–1/13/2003, 1/13/2004 Gregor, Arthur–3/10/1975 Grennan, Eammon–11/25/1991, 3/1/2004, 5/18/2009 Groarke, Vona–3/1/2004 Grubin, Eve–1/24/2006 Grumbach, Doris–1/5/1976 Guest, Barbara–7/1977

Hacker, Marilyn–10/13/1975, 12/14/1988, 9/18/1997 Hadas, Rachel–10/23/2000 Hagedorn, Jessica–2/19/1991 Hahn, Kimiko–10/4/1983 Hall, Donald–10/15/1985 Halliday, Mark–11/7/2005 Handal, Nathalie–11/13/2002 Hardison, O.B.–5/28/1974 Harjo, Joy–12/11/2000 Harper, Michael–4/2/1973, 4/22/1986,4/6/2009 Harris, Peter–10/6/1981 Harrison, Jeffrey–5/6/1988; 2/18/1986 Hass, Robert–2/18/1986, 4/8/1994, 5/16/2011 Hawkes, John–1/22/1973 Hayden, Robert–1/21/1977 Hayes, Terrance–2/12/2007,9/29/2008 Hazo, Samuel–3/26/1972, 12/3/1982 Heaney, Seamus–5/3/1985, 4/7/1991 Hearon, Shelby–10/12/1984 Hecht, Anthony–1/13/1986, 10/22/1987, 10/26/1990, 12/10/1996 Hecht, Roger–2/12/1970 Hempel, Amy–5/4/1999 Hicok, Bob– 2/17/2009 Higgins, Dick–3/2/1981 Hillman, Brenda–2/24/1998 Hirsch, Edward–3/4/1985, 3/1/2005, 9/28/2010 Hirshfield, Jane–4/8/2010 Hoagland, Tony– 9/23/2005 Holub, Miroslav–10/15/1991 Howard, Richard– 12/10/2007 Howe, Fanny– 9/21/2004 Howe, Marie–1/29/2001, 2/17/2009 Howe, Susan–12/11/2001

Ignatow, David–3/11/1991 Inada, Lawson Fusao–11/10/1998

Jackson, Major–4/30/2012 Jackson, Reuben–1/27/1998 Jacobsen, Josephine–11/10/1975, 1/17/1977, 12/9/1983, 12/12/1989 Jeffers, Honoree Fanonne–9/23/2002 Jellema, Rod–5/24/1976 Jensen, Laura–3/9/1987 Jess, Tyehimba– 4/7/2008 Johnson, Denis–4/2/1985 Jong, Erika–12/7/1978 Jordan, A. Van–9/23/2002 Jordan, June–10/9/1978, 11/18/1987, 3/2/1990 Joselow, Beth–2/9/1993 Justice, Donald–4/15/1991, 3/2/1999

Kapovich, Katia–1/13/2004 Karr, Mary–12/7/1997, 3/21/2011 Kaufman, Shirley–2/1/1974 Keene, John–4/30/2012 Kendrick, Dolores–4/29/2002 Kennedy, X.J.–4/5/1976 Kenyon, Jane–2/3/1992 Kinnell, Galway–4/9/1987, 2/8/1994, 5/4/2001, 3/24/2008 Kinzie, Mary– 9/28/2008 Kizer, Carolyn–4/30-5/2/1981 Klappert, Peter–3/12/1973 Kleinschmidt, Edward–1/28/1991 Koch, Kenneth–1/14/2002 Komunyakaa, Yusef–11/8/1999, 2/9/2012 Kooser, Ted–4/25/2006 Kraushaar, Mark–11/8/2011 Kumin, Maxine–12/6/1976, 12/8/1992 Kunitz, Stanley–5/12/1987, 4/16/1999

Ladd, Matthew–10/19/2010 Lalic, Ivan–9/7/1983 Lally, Michael–2/24/1975 Lauterbach, Ann–4/16/1998 Lee, Li-Young–3/11/1991, 12/9/2002 LeGuin, Ursula–3/21/1983 Levertov, Denise–5/9/1983, 9/21/1993, 3/19/1998 Levin, Phillis– 4/2/2007 Levine, Philip–5/30/1978, 2/27/1989, 5/2/2005 Liddy, James–2/6/1979 Lights, Rikki–10/30/1984 Lorde, Audre–1/21/1980 Loucheim, Katie–3/24/1975 Lurie, Alison–10/12/1984 Lux, Thomas–12/1/1980, 11/19/1990, 1/24/2000

Macdonald, Cynthia–12/12/1986, 10/22/1992 Major, Clarence–1/5/1976, 11/26/2001 Martinez, J. Michael–2/28/2011 Martínez, Valerie–2/28/2011 Martone, Michael–4/8/1999 Matthews, William–1/21/1993 McAleavey, David–2/7/1980 McCallum, Shara– 9/23/2002 McCann, David–2/2/2004 McGrath, Campbell–11/7/2005 McGrath, Thomas– 1/31/1989 McHugh, Heather–11/19/1979, 10/20/1998 McMorris, Mark –2/4/1999 Mead, Jane–1/26/1999 Meehan, Paula–9/19/2011 Melindez, Jesus–11/12/1996 Meredith, William–12/6/1976 Merrill, Christopher–2/27/1996 Merrill, James–11/8/1976, 11/18/1986 Merwin, W.S.–11/16/1979, 11/16/1983, 4/20/1995, 10/6/1998, 5/3/2010, 5/3/2010 Middlebrook, Diane–11/3/2004 Miles, Josephine–4/13/1981 Miller, E. Ethelbert–10/9/1978, 2/9/1993, 10/24/1995 Miller, Jane–11/17/1994 Miller, May–1/17/1977 Milosz, Czeslaw–4/8/1994 Morgan, Frederick–12/6/1977, 10/18/1982 Morris, Tracie–11/8/1999 Moss, Howard–1/9/1978 Muldoon, Paul–3/7/1995, 2/24/2003, 5/13/2013 Mullen, Harryette– 12/6/2004 Murphy, Richard–3/17/1971 Murray, Les–9/29/1988, 11/12/1991, 3/26/2001 Muske, Carol–2/5/1990 Myles, Eileen–1/25/2005, 9/29/2008

Nelson, Jennifer–11/10/1998 Nelson, Maggie–12/3/1998 Nemerov, Howard–9/21/1981 Ni Chuilleanan, Eilean–9/21/1981, 1/18/1989, 5/6/1997 Nims, John Frederick–10/21/1993 Nordhaus, Jean–3/24/1977, 2/3/1992 Notley, Alice–3/18/2002 Nye, Naomi Shihab–11/13/2002, 4/11/2011

Olds,Sharon–12/10/1984, 5/12/1995, 10/25/2005 Oles, Carole–12/7/1981 Oliver, Mary –2/4/1985, 12/8/1998 Ondaatje, Michael–1/14/1997 Orlen, Steve–1/4/1982 Orr, Gregory–1/28/1991 Osbey, Brenda Marie–2/16/1999

Padgett, Ron–3/15/2003 Palmer, Michael–10/1/1998 Papoleto Melendez, Jesus–11/12/1996 Parini, Jay–11/13/1997 Pastan, Linda–2/7/1978, 3/29/1988, 1/14/1991, 2/14/1995, 1/12/2009 Pauker, John–2/12/1970, 6/5/1978 Pavlova, Vera–11/8/2010 Paz, Octavio–9/29/1988, 10/18/1988, 4/15/1993, 5/25/1995 Peacock, Molly–6/30/1990, 4/2/2007 Perillo, Lucia–12/14/2010 Phillips, Carl–9/17/2012 Piercy, Marge–10/18/1976, 10/24/1988 Pietri, Pedro–11/12/1996 Pinsky, Robert–10/24/1984, 4/17/1998, 10/4/2011 Plimpton, George–5/5/1994, 6/12/1997 Plumly, Stanley–2/10/1987, 3/19/1998, 5/3/2004 Pollitt, Katha–3/9/1987 Pratt, Minnie Bruce–6/30/1990 Pritchard, William–3/3/1986

Quinn, Alice–3/2/1993

Ratushinskay, Irina–4/4/1988 Reading, Peter–1/25/1994 Reagon, Bernice–3/2/1990 Reddy, Srikanth–1/29/2007 Renegade, DJ–2/16/1998 Rich, Adrienne–5/4/1993, 10/10/1995 Rivard, David–10/27/2007 Robin, Ralph–5/24/1976 Rodgers, Pattiann–5/15/2003 Rothenberg, Jerome–5/11/1982 Ruark, Gibbons–11/25/1991 Ruckheyser, Muriel–1/21/1974, 9/25/1978 Rudman, Mark–10/16/1997 Ryan, Kay–1/22/2008, 12/3/2012

Sacks, Peter–9/29/1988, 4/12/1989, 12/12/1995 Sadoff, Ira–3/4/1980 Sanchez, Sonia–2/6/1984, 9/17/1990, 2/13/2006 Sayers Ellis, Thomas–9/21/2004, 4/30/2012 Scalapino, Leslie–10/16/1997 Schnackenberg, Gjertrud–3/4/1985 Schneeman, George –3/15/2003 Scott, Frank –1/30/1972 Seshadri, Vijay –2/28/2000, 9/21/2004 Sexton, Linda –1/23/1978 Shange, Ntozake–2/19/1991 Shapiro, Alan–10/19/1999 Shihab Nye, Naomi–11/13/2002, 4/11/2011 Shore, Jane–2/5/1990 Simic, Charles–5/2/1981, 4/2/1984, 3/2/1993, 5/1/2006 Sklarew, Myra–3/26/1972, 11/10/1977, 9/20/1982, 3/29/1988 Slavitt, David–2/17/1975 Sleigh, Tom–3/23/1999 Smith, Bruce–11/26/2001 Smith, Dave–10/22/1990 Smith, Jordan–5/8/1984 Smith, Patricia–11/14/1995, 11/19/1996, 3/1/2010 Smith, Tracy K.–1/12/2009, 4/30/2012 Snodgrass, W.D.–10/15/1985, 5/13/2002, 5/18/2002 Snyder, Gary–5/6/1998, 5/8/1998, 5/14/2012 Sobel, Dava–3/11/1998 Sorescu, Marin–5/17/1972 Spahr, Juliana–10/9/2009 Spellman, A.B.–4/6/2009 Spires, Elizabeth–4/2/1985, 12/6/1999,

St. John, David–12/4/1979,

St. Germain, Sheryl–2/22/1994 Stern, Steve–5/4/1999 Styron, Rose–5/5/1994

Stewart, Pamela–11/17/1981 Strand, Mark–2/25/1980, Swenson, May–10/2/1984

Spires, Elizabeth 12/8/2008 St. John, David 10/29/2001 Stern, Gerald 2/11/2008 Strand, Mark 11/19/2012 Strange, Sharan–4/30/2012 Suarez, Virgil–3/13/2006 Sze, Arthur–2/28/2000, 11/3/2009 Torres, Edwin–9/29/2008 Trethewey, Natasha–4/29/2002, 3/16/2009, 4/30/2012 Tribute to Henry Taylor–9/23/2003 Valentine, Jean 12/8/2003 Van Clief-Stefanon, Lyrae–3/21/2011 Un, Ko–2/2/2004 Troupe, Quincy–4/7/2008 Turner, Brian–10/30/2012 Voigt, Ellen Bryant 10/21/2002 Walcott, Derek 3/12/2007 Waldman, Anne–5/16/2005 Waldrop, Rosmarie–12/17/2005 Walker, Frank X.–2/12/2007 Warren, Rosanna 10/19/2010 Weaver, Afaa Michael–11/20/2000, 11/3/2009 Wilbur, Richard 5/18/2010 Williams, C. K. 2/14/2005 Wojahn, David–10/26/2007 Zu-Bolton, Ahmos 11/20/2000 Young, Kevin–1/6/2011, 4/30/2012 Yeats' Gallery–2/25/2002

Tate, James–2/24/1998 Thon, Melanie Rae–4/8/1999 Tillinghast, Richard–3/30/1992 Updike, John–4/6/1992 Valentine, Jean 12/10/1990, Van Duyn, Mona–1/20/1975, /14/1991 Vazarani, Reetika–11/18/1997 Walcott, Derek 4/26/1996, Waniek, Marilyn (aka Marilyn Nelson)–11/17/1992 Waring, Belle–5/13/1991 Warren, Rosanna–3/7/1995, Weigl, Bruce–1/22/1990 Wright, C.D.–2/4/1999 Wright, Charles 12/9/1991, Wright, Charles 11/13/1997, YMCA National Writer's Voice–5/4/1999 Young, Al–1/27/1998 Zagajewski, Adam–4/2/1990 Wright, Jay–1/23/1996 Wilbur, Richard 2/26/1998,


Tate, Garth–10/4/1983 Tate, Gregory–10/30/1986 Taufer, Veno–5/17/1982 Taylor, Henry 11/13/1989 Transtromer, Tomas–4/1/1986 Voigt, Ellen Bryant–4/2/1984, Walcott, Derek–9/29/1988, Whittemore, Reed 5/9/1984, 1/19/1989 Wilbur, Richard–4/22/1982, Williams, C. K.–2/10/1987, Willis, Patricia–1/15/1988 Wood, Susan–1/4/1982 Wright, Charles–2/5/1980, Valentine, Jean–4/18/1983, 12/12/1983, 12/12/1989, Zadravec, Katherine–12/11/1986


St. John, Primus–2/21/1971 Stafford, William–1/17/1971 Stanford, Ann–4/1974 Stanton, Maura–5/2/1977 Stern, Gerald–12/11/1978, Stevens, Holly–2/27/1972 

Taylor, Henry–1/3/1977,

Ullman, Leslie–5/29/1979 Walker, Alice–12/6/1977 Weiss, Theodore–11/6/1978 Whitman, Ruth–11/21/1977 Whittemore, Reed–9/25/1975, 1/21/1977, Wilson, Keith–3/14/1972 Wright, Charles David–3/10/1975, 3/31/1977 Wright, James–3/8/1976, 3/8/1979 Zu-Bolton, Ahmos–2/2/1976,