On Wednesday May 20th, we gathered for the 6th annual Global Poetry Celebration to hear poems in many different languages. This year, we heard poetry in Arabic, Burmese, Dutch, French, German, Japanese, Punjabi, Spanish, Turkish and Urdu.
We joined our friends at Cracked Walnut to present this event as part of the monthly Poets & Pints Series at Sisyphus Brewing in Minneapolis.
The reading began at 7pm and had two parts:
- Part 1: Readers chosen in advance share poems in languages other than standard modern English. Each reader is allotted 5 minutes.
- Part 2: Open mic where anyone can sign up at the event and share one poem, in English or another language. Each reader is allotted 2 minutes.
Image: Global-Poets-May-2026
By Min Ko Naing ●
June 30, 2026
Noiseless according to rules,
But the flag remains unfurled
Flying high.
As the new night of the world
Awaits the moon’s first rays
Click through to read the full poem in English and Burmese.
By Dominque (Nik) Miller ●
June 30, 2026
Oh warm westerly wind,
lift me up, gently.
Carry me home
to where tulips
in low lands
patiently wait
for my return.
Click through to read the full poem in English and Dutch.
By Mai Al-Khatib ●
June 30, 2026
1. A grain of rice and a crumb of bread fell—walked over by the foot of a little girl.
2. As for the ground, it held a crack—one not visible at first glance.
Click through to read the full poem in English and Arabic.
By Heidi Romanish ●
June 30, 2026
I want to walk
with you by my side
in rhythm with our feet
legs open
one foot in front of the other
Click through to read the full poem in English and Spanish.
By Hend Joudah ●
June 30, 2026
What does it mean to be a poet in a time of war?
It means that you apologize.
You apologize excessively to the burnt-out tree.
To the birds without nests
To the flattened houses
Click through to read the full poem in English and Arabic.
By Birhan Keskin ●
June 30, 2026
let’s return to the seed
my eyes sensed the winter
because i didn’t go out. i didn’t stretch out.
i didn’t encircle anything.
Click through to read the full poem in English and Turkish.
By K.T.M (Mimi Oo) ●
June 30, 2026
I am a treasure
I am a priceless jewel
And I am this “Ruby”
that doesn’t belong in a swamp.
Click through to read the full poem in English and Burmese.
By Mugu Ganesan ●
June 30, 2026
The heart is still not full, restless even today.
I confess to you: he is out of control again!
Click through to read the full poem in English and Urdu.
By Min Soe San ●
June 30, 2026
Hey Friend!
I will discipline my own mind
And you discipline yours
Truly,
we will achieve all our goals.
Click through to read the full poem in English and Karen.
A poet, educator, and writer originally from St. Louis, Missouri, Katie Vagnino graduated from Yale University and earned her M.F.A. in Creative Writing at Emerson College. Her debut collection of poetry, Imitation Crab (Finishing Line Press, 2021), explores the tension between authenticity and artificiality, and the slipperiness of identity through the lens of female experience. She was our editor for our 6th Annual Global Poetry event.
A good “selections” editor—whether working with text, video, or audio—is a master of invisibility, empathy, and pacing.They know that content is ultimately about the listener’s – or reader’s – experience. They anticipate what will resonate, how it will be spoken, why it’s important and when collecting the selections to be read, who should speak when and why.
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