The poetic circle convenes poets, translators, and poetry lovers over Zoom to share original work, translations, and/or works they love that honor a predetermined theme. Originally formed during the Pandemic by poet and literary scholar Dr. Fatemeh Shams for faculty and graduate students at Penn, we are thrilled to host this Circle and open it up to our community! This is an opportunity to share and discuss pieces (whether poetry, experimental short fiction, musical interpretations, etc.), workshop works in progress, and be in community with other lovers of poetry, literature and music. Works in non-English languages are welcome and encouraged! In tandem with the theme of migration, we are limiting readings to original and existing translations for January’s circle.

Migrate– verb. /maɪˈɡreɪt/

To move* from one place* to another.

1. Move, or be displaced, forced, or evacuated.

2. Place, or climate, home, country, city

The movement of peoples from one place, climate, city, nation-state to another is a constant of life on earth that sustains from our beginning to today. For humanity, the rhythm of packing, traveling, settling, and re-packing syncopates, curving off towards new technologies of trade, transportation, and connection, and ultimately doubling back toward the magnetic forces of food, shelter, and livelihood.

Our understanding of the world is shaped by the spiraling movement of migration, looping over generations and landmasses. Its buoyancy lies in the tradition, art, and ritual we create as we commune with the earth beneath our feet, wherever we land.