A well acclaimed poet and professor will speak Wednesday evening at the Department of English’s first Live Oak Reading Series event of the semester.

Jake Adam York, associate professor of English and director of creative writing at the University of Colorado Denver, will read from his latest two books, “A Murmuration of Starlings” and “Persons Unknown.” He will also be reading from his unpublished book, “Abide."

York’s poetry centers around how Americans remember the Civil Rights Movement and the effect it has on our daily lives. Some of the poems he plans to read focus on John Earl Reese, a 16-year-old boy who was murdered in East Texas in 1955.

This is the first time York will read these poems to a Texas audience.

“It’s possible that people might know more about this subject than I do, and I welcome corrections at readings,” York said. “Sometimes the things I write about may seem far away in time and place, so I’m looking forwards to seeing what this audience thinks.”

York’s poetry has won several awards and fascinates his readers.

“His writing is socially-aware in ways that are provocative and illuminating, ways that importantly merge the art object with social justice,” Alex Lemon, an English professor, said. “Not only are his poems beautiful aesthetically, they’re beautifully wrought.”

This event is part of the Live Oak Reading Series put on by the Department of English. They try to host two or more nationally recognized authors/poets a semester. 

The reading will take place at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday in Moudy South 320.

There will be a Q&A following York’s reading, and copies of his poetry books will be sold at the event.