Poetry in the Park

Kay Ryan (United States Poet Laureate, 2008-10) and Jamaal May (Beatrice Hawley Award, 2013) read live on the 7,000 sq ft New World Center as part of O, Miami's Poetry in the Park WallCast.

Bring a picnic basket and a blanket to Soundscape Park for a world-class reading that unfolds in high-definition surround sound and Godzilla-sized projection.

Come early at 4 p.m. to hear a performance by the SPAM All-Stars, accompanied by string musicians from the Sam Hyken Orchestra (Courtesy of the City of Miami Beach).

At 6 p.m., MDC Live Arts presents a Miami edition of Acoustic Bicycle. Composer and musician Taylor Ho Bynum arrives in the park with a group of free-wheeling Peddling Poets who present site-specific poetry and music on bicycles. Featured poets are Adrian Castro, Michele Jessica Fievre, Michael Hettich, Jen Karetnick and Geoffrey Philp.

Simultaneously, Reading Queer presents "O, Hi There," a free-form reading that celebrates both Pride Day and poetry. Parks have long been a central part of queer culture, especially as spaces for 'cruising' and public sex. Performers will walk around 'cruising' audience members at the park—that is, playfully propositioning them to listen to recordings of poetry using headphones they are carrying around.

Visitors can also get Poetry Manicures, order poems-to-go, and eat empanadas from The Empanada Lady and tacos from The Lone Wolfe.

Then at 7:45 p.m., settle in for the biggest poetry reading of the year.

After the reading, buy the poets' books and get them signed, courtesy of Books & Books Independent bookstore.

Poets visits sponsored by The Writer's Room at The Betsy Hotel