Irish poet Paul Muldoon gives a reading of his poetry and performs with his band Rackett. Photo credit: Peter Van Hattem

Called "the most significant English-language poet born since the second World War" by the New York Times, Pulitzer-prize winning poet Paul Muldoon brings his lyrical talents to Duke this month.

Muldoon will give a poetry reading on Dec. 4 in the Rare Book Room at Perkins Library. Following the reading, his rock band Rackett will perform at the Duke Coffeehouse on East Campus. Both events are free and open to the public.

Extolling him as one of the most dynamic and exciting poets of our time, Ian Baucom, professor and chair of Duke's English department, says Muldoon's poetry combines a sense of "groundedness in Irish history and culture" with a global outlook.

The English department is sponsoring the reading and event as part of a year-long celebration of poetry within the department.

Muldoon has published more than 10 collections of poetry since the early 1970s and received the 2003 Pulitzer Prize for his volume, Moy Sand and Gravel. He hails from County Armagh, Northern Ireland, and is the Howard G. B. Clark, '21 Professor and chair of the Peter B. Lewis Center for the Arts at Princeton University. He has also served as poetry editor of The New Yorker since 2007.

In addition to his poetry, Muldoon pens the lyrics for his Princeton-based rock band.

Baucom says hosting the poetry reading and performance by Rackett together provides a unique experience for audience members.

"The two events let anyone attending both think about the music within poetry -- and how contemporary rock music is strengthened through language so rich," says Baucom.

Baucom says that from early in his career, Muldoon has been plumbing the depths of poetic articulation through his range of language, use of rhyme and vibrant lines of verse.

"There's a kind of energy in the experience of the language itself and it is both serious and deeply witty," Baucom says.

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Poetry Reading: Paul Muldoon
4 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 4
Rare Book Room, Perkins Library
Information: Rebecca Gibson 684-2203, english@duke.edu

Music: Rackett
Doors open at 8:30 p.m., show starts at 9:30 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 4
Duke Coffeehouse, East Campus
Information: 684-4069; duke.edu/web/coffeehouse