Borders Open-Door Poetry celebrates passion, individuality and the power of the written and spoken word. It’s authentic, thought-provoking and bristling with the type of raw energy that comes from the act of self-expression.

	Jorie Graham reads "Just Before" read along
	Robert Pinsky reads "Book" read along
	Shannon Leigh reads "Sudanese Children" read along
	Mark Strand reads the teen-contest-winning poem, “Jainism,” by Merit O. read along
	Billy Collins reads his Haiku read along
	Charles Ekabhumi Ellik and Ed Mabrey compete in Head-To-Head Haiku read along
	Quentin "Q" Talley and Filmore Johnson read "We Are... Searching For..." read along
	Paul Muldoon answers a writing question from the Borders Community read along
	Patricia Smith reads "Scribe" read along

EPISODES

episode one
episode two
episode three
episode four

THE POETS


Kim Addonizio National Book Award finalist WATCH	Billy Collins An American phenomenon WATCH	Death from Below Slam veterans, Dan Sullivan & Tim Stafford WATCH

Brian S. Ellis Cantab slam champion WATCH	Charles Ellik Award-winning performer and popular emcee WATCH	Shira Erlichman Pushcart Prize nominee WATCH

Gary Glazner Founder, Alzheimer's Poetry Project WATCH	Jorie Graham 1996 Pulitzer Prize-winner WATCH	Donald Hall 2006-2007 U.S. Poet Laureate WATCH

Tara Hardy Founder of Bent and Seattle's Poet Populist WATCH	Filmore Johnson Member of the 2007 Charlotte Slam team WATCH	Shannon Leigh Indie finalist at 2007 National Poetry Slam Championship WATCH

Ed Mabrey Individual World Poetry Slam Champion WATCH	Taylor Mali Teacher Advocate and Slam Champion WATCH	Oveous Maximus NYC louderArts Poetry Slam Champion WATCH

Anis Mojgani National Poetry Slam Individual Champion WATCH	Valzhyna Mort Famed poet from Belarus WATCH	Paul Muldoon 2003 Pulitzer Prize-winner WATCH

Robert Pinsky Three term U.S. Poet Laureate WATCH	Patricia Smith 4-time National Individual Slam Champion WATCH	Mark Strand Pulitzer Prize-winner and U.S. Poet Laureate WATCH

Quentin Q. Talley Member of the 2007 Charlotte Slam team WATCH	Buddy Wakefield Individual World Poetry Slam Champion WATCH	Franz Wright Author of 15 collections of poetry WATCH

Poetry contest submissions for our 2nd contest being judged by Billy Collins are open through September 30, 2008.
Learn more

Watch Paul’s answers to the top 3 writing questions sent in by the Borders Open-Door Poetry Community
Watch

Welcome to the world’s first glimpse at 3 new poems by 3 top poets: Billy Collins, Patricia Smith and Franz Wright. It’s: Episode 4 of Borders Open-Door Poetry. Less a sneak peek and more a premonition, a presaging of auspicious poetry en route. All are graciously due out in forthcoming books, including two books already available for precursory doting. Also available for doting: You. The writer. The writer in you. It doesn’t take a soothsayer to say: You’ll feel anew after even just a one-minute freewrite...at opendoorpoetry.gather.com.