Benjamin Alire Sáenz

BENJAMIN ALIRE SÁENZ grew up on a cotton farm in New Mexico speaking only Spanish until he started elementary school. His education eventually took him to Denver, Belguim, Iowa, and California.  He has lived for years in the border region between Texas and New Mexico — an area that remains central to his writing.  Sáenz is a poet, novelist, essayist, children’s book author and painter.  His lifelong love of the visual arts is evident in his poetry, which is rich with visual detail and keen observations about the world around him.  His poetry collections include The Book of What Remains (2010), Dreaming the End of War (2006) Elegies in Blue (2002) and Dark and Perfect Angels (1995).  His honors and awards include Lannan and Wallace E. Stegner Fellowships, two Southwest Book Awards, an American Book Award and many prizes for his children’s books and fiction.

Click here to see our blog on Benjamin Alire Sáenz.  

Schedule

THURSDAY

11:00-12:15
Reading and Conversation
Eavan Boland, Terrance Hayes, Benjamin Alire Sáenz
Prudential Hall 

12:30-1:45pm
Conversation: Crossing Boundaries
Dan Bellm, Eavan Boland, Nikky Finney, Benjamin Alire Sáenz
First Peddie Baptist Memorial Church

7:30-10:00
POETRY SAMPLER
Richard Blanco, Eavan Boland, Henri Cole, Sharon Dolin, Nikky Finney, Terrance Hayes, Juan Felipe Herrera, Jane Hirshfield, Fanny Howe, Kurtis Lamkin, Dorianne Laux, Ada Limón, Thomas Lux, Rachel McKibbens, Taylor Mali, Joseph Millar, Idra Novey, Gregory Orr, Benjamin Alire Sáenz, Patricia Smith, Arthur Sze, Larissa Szporluk, Natasha Trethewey, C.K. Williams, Raúl Zurita
Prudential Hall

FRIDAY

10:50-11:50am
Festival Poet Readings
Emari DiGiorgio, Jane Hirshfield, Taylor Mali, Benjamin Alire Sáenz, Arthur Sze
Victoria Theatre 

1:30-2:30pm
Conversation: Finding Your Poetry
Jane Hirshfield, Rachel McKibbens, Joseph Millar, Benjamin Alire Sáenz
Victoria Theatre
 

SATURDAY

12:00-1:10
Festival Poets Reading
Lamar Hill, Idra Novey, Benjamin Alire Sáenz
CAE Auditorium 

1:30-2:40
Conversation: Crossing Boundaries
Ada Limón, Idra Novey, Gregory Orr, Benjamin Alire Sáenz
First Peddie Baptist Memorial Church

3:00-4:10
Conversation: From Homer to Hip Hop/Poetry and the Oral Tradition
Kurtis Lamkin, Rachel McKibbens, Taylor Mali, Benjamin Alire Sáenz
Victoria Theatre
 

SUNDAY

9:00-10:10
Festival Poet Readings
Sharon Dolin, Terrance Hayes, Joseph Millar, Benjamin Alire Sáenz
Prudential Hall