Poets transform language into powerful emotional, historical and cultural expression. Through rhythm, narrative and lyrical truth, these literary voices inspire reflection and connection. From renowned performance poets and writing mentors to cultural storytellers and award-winning authors, poets use the power of words to spark imagination and share diverse perspectives.
Our top poets—including celebrated American poets, famous female poets and generational voices—deliver unforgettable performances and engaging talks for literary festivals, university events and creative workshops. They explore storytelling, introspection and artistic freedom, helping audiences find deeper meaning and personal voice.
Speaker Booking Agency makes it easy to book a poet who brings authentic, transformative storytelling that blends intellectual insight with emotional resonance and cultural depth for your audience.
Top 9 Poets
Lorna Dee Cervantes Feminist, Activist Poet
Lorna Dee Cervantes is an award-winning Chicana, Native Amer... Read More
Yusef Komunyakaa Pulitzer Prize Winning Poet & Professor at NYU
Award-winning poet and lecturer Yusef Komunyakaa is well-kno... Read More
Ada Limon Poet Laureate of the United States and Finalist for National...
Ada Limón grew up in Sonoma California before attending The... Read More
Kevin Young Distinguished Poet National Book Award Finalist
Kevin Young is the Director of the Schomburg Center for Rese... Read More
Leslie Marmon Silko Acclaimed Native American Novelist, Poet and Essayist
Leslie Marmon Silko is known for her verse treatment of Nati... Read More
Naomi Shihab Nye Accomplished Poet and Author
Naomi Shihab Nye was born in St. Louis, Missouri. Her father... Read More
Juan Felipe Herrera Former Poet Laureate of the United States
The son of migrant farm workers, Herrera was educated at UCL... Read More
Amanda Seales Entertainer, TV Personality and Self-Help Commentator
Amanda Seales is an American entertainer. Aside from her sol... Read More
Natasha Trethewey Former Poet Laureate of the United States
Poet Natasha Trethewey served two terms as the 19th Poet Lau... Read More
Speakers List
Fred Moten Poet Specializing in African American Literature and Creative Writing
Fred Moten is author of In the Break: The Aesthetics of the Black Radical Tradition (University of Minnesota P... Read More
Category: Authors , Diversity Speakers , Top Black Keynote Speakers
Ian Manuel Criminal Justice Reform Advocate, Author & Poet
Ian Manuel is an American author, poet, and criminal justice reform activist. At 13, influenced by older peers... Read More
Category: Activists , Empowerment Speakers , Poets
Iyeoka Ivie Okoawo Iyeoka (ee-yo-kah) Ivie Okoawo is a first generation Nigerian-American award-winning poet recording artist and TED fellow.
MusicIyeoka Ivie Okoawo is a Poet and Recording Artist a 2010 TED Global Fellow the 2nd place 2009 Individual... Read More
Category: Poets
Javier Zamora Memoirist, Poet of “Unaccompanied” (2017), New York Times Bestselling Author of “Solito” (2022) & Advocate for Immigrant Voices in the Arts
Javier Zamora is a Salvadoran-American poet and activist. Fleeing the Salvadoran Civil War, his parents migrat... Read More
Jericho Brown Acclaimed Poet, American Book Award Winner
Please (New Issues, 2008), Jericho Brown's debut poetry collection, won the 2009 American Book Award and has g... Read More
Category: Poets
Joshua Bennett Professor of Literature and Distinguished Chair of Humanities at MIT
American author, educator, and creative mind. He holds the esteemed position of a Professor of English and Cre... Read More
Category: Professors , Creativity Speakers , Diversity Speakers
Joy Harjo Former United States Poet Laureate
Joy Harjo, the 23rd Poet Laureate of the United States, is a member of the Mvskoke Nation and belongs to... Read More
Category: Poets
Juan Felipe Herrera Former Poet Laureate of the United States
The son of migrant farm workers, Herrera was educated at UCLA and Stanford University, and he earned his MFA f... Read More
Kae Tempest British Rapper, Poet, and Playwright
Kae Tempest started out as a rapper toured the spoken word circuit for a number of years and now works as a po... Read More
Category: Creativity Speakers , Poets
Kevin Young Distinguished Poet National Book Award Finalist
Kevin Young is the Director of the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture recently named a National Hi... Read More
Category: Authors , Diversity Speakers , Top Black Keynote Speakers
Kim Fields Actress Best Known for "Facts of Life" and "Living Single"
During Kim's thirty years in show business, she has starred in two long running series, "Facts of Life” and "L... Read More
Category: TV Personalities , Actors-Actresses , Classic TV Stars
Leila Mottley Blossoming Internationally Recognized Novelist of “Nightcrawling” (2022), Poet & Social Justice Advocate
Leila Mottley is an American novelist, poet, and social justice advocate. She gained international recognition... Read More
Category: Authors , Diversity Speakers , Poets
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