Hai-Dang Phan

In Reenactments, Hai-Dang Phan grapples with the history, memory, and legacy of the Vietnam War from his vantage point as the son of Vietnamese refugees. Through a kaleidoscope of poetic forms, the past and present, the remembered and imagined, all intersect at shifting angles providing urgent perspectives on conflicts both private and public. Phan weaves throughout the collection stories of his family’s exodus from Vietnam, thoughtfully reenacting an American experience of immigration, dislocation, inheritance, and hope. And, in a fresh move, Phan widens the lens, incorporating translations of several Vietnamese poets. This moving debut marks a vital addition to the literature of immigration and a distinctive contribution to contemporary poetry.

Join Magic City Books, Tulsa Artist Fellowship and the Oklahoma Center for the Humanities as we welcome Hai-Dang Phan on his visit to Tulsa to celebrate his new collection of poetry, Reenactments. Writer and Tulsa Artist Fellow Mark de Silva will host this evening of discussion and poetry with Mr. Phan.

The event will take place in Tyrrell Hall on the campus of The University of Tulsa. It is free and open to the public. Reenactments will be available at Magic City Books starting February 19 and will be available for sale at the event.