Letters of the Alphabet Go to War

Join us for Letters of the Alphabet Go to War, a reading and conversation with Ukrainian poet Lesyk Panasiuk.

Letters of the Alphabet Go to War (2026, Sarabande Books) is the first of Lesyk Panasiuk’s seven poetry collections to be translated into English. The event will feature an introduction to the collection, readings from the collection in the original Ukrainian and in English translation (translated by Ilya Kaminsky and Katie Farris), and an audience Q&A. Light refreshments will be served. All are welcome.

Panasiuk is a Ukrainian poet, translator, artist and designer, member of PEN Ukraine, and a service member of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. He has written seven poetry collections in Ukrainian. His works have been translated into dozens of languages. Co-author of a type of short poetic form Poetry Bug that employ a 3-line pattern (2–2–2). Translator and co-translator of six poetry collections, three literary anthologies, and 1 libretto, including Ukrainian translations of poetry collections by Valzhyna Mort and Ilya Kaminsky. Laureate of numerous literary and art contests, a recipient of fellowships from the President of Ukraine, International Writers’ and Translators’ House, House of Europe, Staromiejski House of Culture, Shevchenko Scientific Society, Dartmouth College, Literary Colloquium Berlin, PEN Ukraine, Translatorium, University of Alberta.

Co-sponsored by the Division of University Studies; the Programs in the Core Liberal Arts: Sciences, Core Liberal Arts: Communities, First-year Seminars, Peace and Conflict Studies, Russian and Eurasian Studies; and the Kraynak Institute for the Study of Freedom and Western Traditions

Contact [email protected] with any questions.