Everyone is invited to this special event

The University of Arizona Press, Special Collections, and the University of Arizona Poetry Center present: Celebrating Light As Light: A Poetry Reading by Simon J. Ortiz, with University of Arizona Regents Professor Ofelia Zepeda.

Join us to commemorate Ortiz’s first collection of poems in 20 years: Light As Light. Ortiz will read from his latest book, followed by a conversation with fellow poet Zepeda. A book signing and reception will take place with books available for purchase.

RSVPs

The event is free and open to the public, but seating is limited. EVENT IS FULL / REGISTRATION IS CLOSED

About 'Light As Light'

Light As Light's poems celebrate the wonders and joy of love in the present while also looking back with both humorous and serious reflections on youth and the stories, scenes, people, and places that shape a person’s life. The collection brims with giddy, wistful long-distance love poems that offer a dialogue between the speaker and his beloved.

Written in Ortiz’s signature conversational style, this volume claims poetry for everyday life as the poems find the speaker on a morning run, burnt out from academic responsibilities, missing his beloved, reflecting on sobriety, walking the dog, and pondering the act of poem making. The collection also includes prayer poems written for the speaker’s son; poems that retell traditional Acoma stories and history; and poems that engage environmental, political, and social justice issues—making for a well-rounded collection that blends the playful and the profound.

The University of Arizona Press

The University of Arizona Press (UA Press) is the premier publisher of academic, regional, and literary works in the state of Arizona. UA Press disseminates ideas and knowledge of lasting value that enrich understanding, inspire curiosity, and enlighten readers. UA Press advances the University of Arizona’s mission by connecting scholarship and creative expression to readers worldwide.