For three days in February, poets and poet-scholars will bring their poetic license to Durham at the invitation of Duke's English department for "Infection in the Sentence Breeds: A Festival of Poetry."

Featuring readings, performances, workshops and discussions, the festival whose title comes from a line in an Emily Dickinson poem will be held Feb. 26 through 28 at various locations on campus and throughout Durham. All of the events are free and open to the public.

"I think it's going to be a unique and historic event," says Fred Moten, associate professor of English and a member of the festival's organizing committee. "The distinction, the quality and the importance of the work of the poets we are bringing to Duke is pretty phenomenal. The conference will be a chance for people in the area to hear some of the most important, contemporary poetry from people whose work is of lasting historical significance."

During the conference, a range of noted American and international poets will give readings in pairs. Following the readings, the poets will engage in conversations moderated by poet-scholars. The opening night will feature a conversation and reading with jazz musician and poet Cecil Taylor and contemporary Caribbean poet Kamau Braithwaite.

"To be able to provide an encounter between these two folks who are both giants in their field is incredible," says Moten. "It's a once-in-a-lifetime event."

Moten says that a deliberate decision was made to hold a number of conference events in the Durham community.

"There is a very vibrant community of poets and writers in the Triangle area," he says. "We really wanted to make sure that the festival is part of a continuum and of a general literary movement in the Triangle. We're hoping to add something significant to movements that have already been in place here for some time."

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Conference: A Festival of Poetry
Thursday, Feb. 26 through Sunday, Feb. 28
multiple locations
Information: 684-2203; english.duke.edu/community/groups/poetry.php