Walt Whitman Birthplace Association (WWBA) presents Walking With Whitman: Poetry in Performance, hosted by Writer-in-Residence George Wallace.
The signature series, now in its 15th season, continues to bring the most intriguing figures in contemporary literature on the national scene paired with local poets on the Walt Whitman stage.
Event begins at 7:00pm. Light refreshments served.
There is a $12 entry fee for this event that will be collected at the door (no registration is required)
Alexander Selimov – Drawing from his experiences in Havana and deep immersion in Hispanic literature, Alexander Selimov crafts poetry that bridges cultures and challenges social conventions. As the Elias Ahuja Chair of Spanish and Professor of Iberian & Latin American Studies at the University of Delaware, he brings a unique perspective to his acclaimed literary work, which explores the intricate landscapes of love, sensuality, loss, and cultural identity.
Alexander’s impact on international literature has earned him prestigious recognition, including the titles of ‘Universal Ambassador of Culture’ and ‘Distinguished Poet’ from the Bolivian Association of Writers and the Governor of Tarija, with UNESCO recognition. His membership in the Association of Writers of Tarija further cements his connection to Latin American literary circles.
His collection ‘Challenge’ exemplifies his fearless approach to poetry, tackling urgent global issues from environmental degradation to social injustice with both eloquence and urgency. This distinctive voice has garnered international acclaim, including an honorable mention at the 2018 Victoria Urbano Creative Writing Competition in Chicago and a silver medal at Azerbaijan’s LIFFT-2019 Eurasian Literary Festival. Most recently, his contributions to global poetry were celebrated with the “Poet of the Year” honor at the 7th International Boao Poetry Festival in Bangkok, Thailand (December 2024)
David Lawton is the author of Sharp Blue Stream (Three Rooms Press) and the chapbook Inspiritive (Moonstone Arts). He is a graduate of the theatre program at Boston University, where he was also a Guest Artist in the graduate play writing classes taught by Nobel Laureate Derek Walcott. For ten years David was a background vocalist in the New York underground band Leisure Class. At the band’s de facto headquarters in the Chelsea Hotel, he befriended Beat godfather Herbert Huncke and San Francisco poet Marty Matz, and was inspired by their embodiment of the written word. David also serves as an editor for greatweatherforMEDIA, and collaborates with poets Aimee Herman and Eric Alter in the poemusic collective Hydrogen Junkbox.
LINDA SUSSMAN is an award-winning singer-songwriter whose mix of alt-folk and blues digs deep into our shared human experience. Her vocals are often compared to Joan Baez, while her self-taught guitar style leans into open tunings, unique fingerpicking and a bit of acoustic slide. Linda has played numerous stages over the years, ranging from the Long Island Music Hall of Fame and New York City’s iconic The Bitter End to smaller venues such as Radio Bean in Burlington, VT. Since 2018, she has released five albums with her studio musicians and was thrilled to see her music top the Roots Music Report’s alt-folk charts more than once! Her music is played on radio stations across the US and abroad. As KTAL radio host Ron Cooke says: “Linda makes music worth listening to. She makes the personal universal and the universal personal.” Check out her website at LindaSussman.com.
