Mérida, Yucatán    January 7-12, 2018

Welcome to the 7th USPiM Poetry Conference

Writing workshops, Translation workshops and Featured readings & Performances

Hoa Nguyen will be USPiM Poet In Residence in Mérida from Dec. 30 -  Jan.14, 2018

Warm days & cool nights, Mayan culture, culinary excellence and colonial architecture await you in lovely Mérida.  

Mérida was recently voted #1 safest and most peaceful city in all of Mexico for the third time!  USPiM brings poets together in Mexico to share their work with writing colleagues in intimate workshops with experienced teaching professionals.  You can expect to develop long-lasting professional and personal friendships, discover Mexican poets and poetry and explore local culture. 

During the week of January 8-12, 2018, USPiM will feature nightly readings by faculty, Mexican poets and participants.

Previous USPiM Conferences & Poets

Oaxaca 2016, January:   Major Jackson, Eileen Myles, Charles Alexander, Mark Statman, Susan Briante, Pedro Serrano   Poetas Mexicanos:  Tedi Lopez Mills (CDMX),  Pedro Serrano (CDMX), Efrain Velasco Sosa (Oaxaca), Victor Teran (Zapotec language, Juchitán de Zaragoza, Oaxaca)  Fellowship Award: Devreaux Baker;  Mexico Awards: Haydee Ramos Cadena, Yendi Ramos, Clyo Mendoza Hererra, (Oaxaca), & Ana Teran, Ana Franco, Helena Moguel, Ximena Rojo de la Vega (all 3-CDMX)

Oaxaca 2014:  Andrei Codrescu, Ron Silliman, Laure-Anne Bosselaar, Anselm Berrigan, Catherine Wagner, Translation: Clare Sullivan  Poetas Mexicanas:  Maria Baranda (Mexico City), Natalia Toledo (Juchitán de Zaragoza, Oaxaca; Mexico City), Rocío González (Oaxaca/Mexico City), Guadalupe Ángela (Oaxaca), Fellowship Award: Leah Silvieus;  Mexico Awards: Oscar Tanat (Oaxaca)

Merida 2013:  Tom Sleigh, Ron Silliman, Nicole Cooley, Lynn Emanuel, Mark Weiss, Translation: Suzanne Jill Levine   Poetas Mexicanos: Mario Bojórquez (Puebla), Álvaro Solís (Puebla), Rubén Márquez Máximo (Puebla), Ambar Past (San Cristobal de las Casas) and Maruch Mendes Peres (Chiapas, Tsotzil Mayan language), Gabriel Magana Merlo (Guadalajara), Fellowship Award: Emilia Phillips;  Mexico Award: Fernando de la Cruz

Tulum 2011:  Diane Wakoski, Jerome Rothenberg, Paul Hoover, Mark Weiss, Translation: Jen Hofer  Poetas Mexicanos: Luis Cortés Bargalló (Mexico City), Rocío Cerón (Mexico City), Carla Faesler (Mexico City) , Feliciano Sánchez Chan (Merida, Mayan language)  Fellowship Award: Mary Kasimor, MFA Translation Award: Alice Jennings;  Mexico Awards: Victor Vivas, Chany Castro Polanco (Cozumel) and Ana Mar Morena Perez (Playa del Carmen), Addy Garcia Guerrero (PdC), Berenice Moreno (PdC), Rosa María Adame Aspinwall (PdC)

Merida 2010:  Mark Doty, Anne Waldman, Martin Espada, Translation: Pedro Serrano   Poetas Mexicanos:  Pura López-Colomé (Mexico City), José Vicente Anaya (Mexico City),  Pedro Serrano (Mexico City), Bricieda Cuevas Cob (Campeche, Mayan language), Fellowship Award: Jennifer Perrine, Mexico Awards: Omar Gongora Guzman, Fernando de la Cruz, Melissa Larios Luna, Raul Moarquech Ferrera-Balanquet (Merida)

Merida 2009:  C. D. Wright, Forrest Gander, Bob Holman, Jack Collom, Translation: Mónica de la Torre   Poetas Mexicanas: Coral Bracho (Mexico City), Mónica de la Torre (NYC), Valerie Mejer (San Miguel de Allende), Bricieda Cuevas Cob (Campeche, Mayan language), Mexico Awards: Fernando de la Cruz, Christian Nunez Tello, David Ele Loria Araujo, Melisa Grisel Bermudez (Merida)

“Merida, the capital of Yucatan, is one of my favorite cities in Mexico, so I jumped at the chance to attend the first U.S. Poets in Mexico workshops in January 2009. The teaching staff listed was also compelling, featuring some of the best contemporary U.S. and Mexican poets. But there were added features that I hadn’t realized I would also come to savor: the friendliness of all those who attended, students and staff; the late night dinners and drinks; the helpfulness, the encouragement, the new ideas and new viewpoints; the vibrant atmosphere that being among talented peers can create. I’ve been to other writing workshops, but USPiM now tops my list of inspirational settings for poets who want to learn, have fun, and experience a beautiful city. (2009 Merida, 2013 Merida) ” - James, CA

“US Poets in Mexico was meaningful for me in ways I hadn’t expected. Being in Oaxaca was in every way a sensual immersion of colors, tastes, smells, language, landscape, architecture, graphic design, deep history and edgy modernity. Against that backdrop of place, we shared a week-long conversation about poetry through lectures, workshops and readings held in wonderful venues. I was especially engaged by lectures about the history of Mexican poetry, which is entwined with the country’s political and artistic movements, and a portal into Mexico’s passions. Conference organizers, faculty and fellow participants were the kind of people you want to travel with - smart, funny, resourceful and capable of awe. The USPiM experience touched more than just the poem center of my brain: I came back to the snowy Northeast excited about writing, printmaking and returning to Oaxaca! (Jan. 2016 Oaxaca)” - Deborah, PA

*Photo of LaTasha N. Nevada Diggs by Willy Somma

Poetry

English language poets visit Mexico for a week of inspiring literary discourse and writing workshops with their peers, and are introduced to contemporary Mexican poets and their work.

Cultural Immersion

Visiting poets learn about local culture, indigenous languages and customs, and visit archaeological sites, museums and ecological sites.

Translation

We encourage and support translation projects. Translation workshops are available with teaching professionals who specialize in Latin American literature - particularly Mexican poetry.