The Poetry Salon is set to launch its new season on Thursday, Sept. 19, with a special focus on the work of acclaimed poet Richard Blanco.
Born in Madrid and raised in the United States after immigrating with his Cuban-exile family as an infant, Blanco has built a distinguished career as an engineer, writer, and poet since 1991. In 2013, he gained national recognition when President Barack Obama selected him as the fifth inaugural poet of the United States. During the inauguration, Blanco delivered “One Today,” an original poem written for the occasion, marking a historic moment as the first Latino, immigrant, and openly gay writer to receive the honor. Blanco’s contributions to poetry have earned him numerous awards, and he currently serves as the education ambassador for the Academy of American Poets. He resides in Bethel, Maine, and has published several poetry collections, including his latest, Homeland of My Body: New & Selected Poems (2023).
The Poetry Salon event will be hosted by Claire Keyes, professor emerita at Salem State University, at 2 p.m. on Sept. 19. Attendees can join the session either in person or via Zoom for a reading and discussion of Blanco’s work.