Milkweed Editions & The Great Northern present Michael Kleber-Diggs: A Reading from Worldly Things
Sun, Jan 30, 3–4 pm
Free, registration required
Moderated by Douglas Kearney
In his debut poetry collection Worldly Things, poet, essayist, and literary critic Michael Kleber-Diggs delivers profound reflections on loss, parenthood, masculinity, and life as a Black man in contemporary America (and specifically, in St. Paul, Minnesota). Amidst tragedy, these poems extend themselves towards compassion and radical kindness, envisioning a more just and tender world while acknowledging how far we still have to go.
Michael Kleber-Diggs is the author of Worldly Things, which was awarded the 2020 Max Ritvo Poetry Prize. He was born and raised in Kansas and now lives in St. Paul, Minnesota. His work has appeared in Lit Hub, the Rumpus, Rain Taxi, McSweeney’s Internet Tendency, Water~Stone Review, Midway Review, North Dakota Quarterly and a few anthologies. Michael teaches poetry and creative non-fiction through the Minnesota Prison Writers Workshop.
Please note: Proof of COVID-19 vaccination or a negative test taken within the prior 72 hours is required to attend this event. Masks are required regardless of vaccination status.
Open Book is an ADA accessible building. There is a free surface parking lot on the side of the building; handicapped reserved spaces are at the rear of the building adjacent to the back door. If the lot is full there is ample metered parking in the area. The Target Performance Hall is on the second floor of the building, accessible by elevator or stairs.
Douglas Kearney has published seven books, including Sho (Wave Books, 2021) of which Ken Chen (NPR) writes “Kearney’s prosody is miraculous”; the award-winning poetry collection Buck Studies (Fence Books, 2016); libretti, Someone Took They Tongues. (Subito, 2016); and criticism, Mess and Mess and (Noemi Press, 2015).) WIRE magazine calls Fodder, a live album featuring Kearney and frequent collaborator, Val Inc., “Brilliant.” A Whiting Writer’s and Foundation for Contemporary Arts Cy Twombly awardee with residencies/fellowships from Cave Canem, The Rauschenberg Foundation, and others. Kearney is a McKnight Presidential Fellow and associate professor of Creative Writing/English at the University of Minnesota–Twin Cities. Born in Brooklyn, raised in Altadena, CA, he lives in St. Paul with his family.