We are excited to introduce May's featured Poet of the Month: Raena Shirali!
Raena will give a reading and lead us through a generative writing workshop from 7 PM - 8:30 PM on May 6th, 2025 at 12Gates, located at 106 N 2nd St. Doors open at 6:30 PM and close promptly at 7 PM.

Curated and facilitated by Sanam Sheriff, the Writing Workshop is part of THE POETS' STUDIO--a two-part monthly gathering for local poets who are interested in writing, revising, and connecting through poetry. This event is free and open to all who are interested in engaging more deeply with poetry.

Sanam Sheriff is a queer poet, artist, and educator from Bangalore, India. They have received support from the Thomas J. Watson Fellowship, Kundiman, Brew & Forge, The Watering Hole, and The Seventh Wave, among others. Sanam’s work has been published in Indiana Review, Virginia Quarterly Review, The Academy of American Poets, Washington Square Review, Outlook India, and elsewhere. Sanam holds an MFA from Washington University in St. Louis. They currently serve as a Visiting Assistant Professor of Creative Writing at Bryn Mawr College where they organize the Reading Series. Sanam is working, with much love, on their debut poetry collection.

This Month’s Poet is Raena Shirali, who will be giving a reading and leading us through this April’s writing workshop where poets will have the opportunity to generate and share new work.

Raena Shirali is the author of two collections of poetry. Her first book, GILT, was released by YesYes Books and won the 2018 Milt Kessler Poetry Book Award. Published by Black Lawrence Press in October 2022, her second book, summonings, won the 2021 Hudson Prize and was shortlisted for the Julie Suk Award. Winner of a Pushcart Prize & a former Philip Roth Resident at Bucknell University, Shirali is also the recipient of prizes and honors from VIDA, Gulf Coast, Boston Review, & Cosmonauts Avenue. Her work has appeared in American Poetry Review, The Nation, The Rumpus, & elsewhere.