Kaveh Akbar is a celebrated Iranian-American poet known for his exquisite, deeply introspective writing that explores identity, addiction, spirituality, and the complexities of human existence. Akbar’s works, such as Calling a Wolf a Wolf and Pilgrim Bell, have earned him widespread acclaim for their lyrical intensity, vulnerability, and profound engagement with personal and cultural history.Kaveh Akbar Biography
Kaveh Akbar was born on January 11, 1989, in Tehran, Iran, and immigrated to the United States as a child. His family’s journey to America deeply shaped his understanding of displacement, belonging, and cultural identity, themes that recur throughout his work. Raised in the Midwest, Akbar grew up immersed in both Persian and American cultures, a duality that informs his poetry’s rich exploration of heritage and selfhood.
Akbar attended Purdue University for his undergraduate studies and later earned his MFA from Butler University. He is currently pursuing a Ph.D. at Florida State University, delving deeper into poetry and literature. While his early work showed promise, his creative output was significantly impacted by his struggles with addiction. These experiences, however, later became central to his poetry, allowing him to craft deeply resonant pieces about recovery, self-destruction, and renewal.
Akbar’s poetry gained critical attention with his debut collection, Calling a Wolf a Wolf (2017), which explores his battle with addiction and his journey toward sobriety. The book, marked by raw vulnerability and stunning imagery, was widely praised for its emotional depth and craftsmanship. In 2021, Akbar published Pilgrim Bell, a collection that further establishes his voice, focusing on spirituality, the divine, and the tension between faith and doubt.
In addition to his poetry collections, Akbar’s works have appeared in prestigious outlets such as The New Yorker, The Paris Review, and The New York Times. He is also the editor of The Penguin Book of Spiritual Verse, a global anthology of spiritual poetry.
Akbar is not only a poet but also an advocate for other writers. He founded Divedapper, a website dedicated to interviews with contemporary poets, fostering dialogue and community within the literary world. Akbar currently teaches at Purdue University and holds visiting appointments at other institutions. His contributions to poetry, both through his own writing and his advocacy for others, have cemented his status as one of the most influential poets of his generation.
Kaveh Akbar Poems
Kaveh Akbar’s poetry blends confession, mysticism, and vivid imagery to explore complex themes. Below are some of his notable works:
1.“Calling a Wolf a Wolf”
The titular poem of his debut collection, this piece delves into the struggles of addiction, naming and confronting the metaphorical wolves within oneself. Akbar’s ability to blend pain and beauty shines here.
2.“Heritage”
This poem explores Akbar’s Iranian heritage and the weight of cultural memory. Through vivid imagery, he examines the duality of living between two worlds.
3.“Pilgrim Bell”
The title poem of his second collection reflects on spirituality, silence, and the search for the divine. It is a haunting meditation on faith and doubt.
4.“Prayer”
A reflection on the nature of prayer, this poem combines religious imagery with a deeply personal narrative, asking what it means to reach for something beyond oneself.
5.“River of Milk”
This piece navigates themes of desire, transformation, and indulgence, using surreal imagery to explore human appetites and the boundaries between excess and restraint.
6.“Do You Speak Persian?”
A poignant exploration of language, identity, and loss, this poem addresses the estrangement Akbar feels from his mother tongue.
7.“Against Dying”
A meditation on mortality, this poem juxtaposes the inevitability of death with moments of startling beauty and life’s fleeting grace.
8.“The Palace”
This poem delves into the opulence and emptiness of human ambition, reflecting Akbar’s lyrical mastery and thematic depth.
9.“We Lived Happily During the War”
A politically charged piece that critiques complacency in the face of global suffering, this poem speaks to broader societal responsibilities.
10.“My Empire”
A reflection on self-construction, this poem examines how identity is shaped and reshaped by experiences, particularly those of pain and recovery.
Akbar’s poems are characterized by their vivid language, confessional tone, and a profound sense of longing—for connection, transcendence, and understanding.
Kaveh Akbar Quotes
1.“I’ve never been true. But at least I’m real.”
2.“Even the most sacred hunger for nothing but to be sated.”
3.“My ears can’t hear my own prayers.”
4.“There is an art to loving someone and staying whole.”
5.“Sobriety is a liturgy I do by rote.”
6.“Every language has its word for God, and none of them are right.”
7.“Faith is not the absence of doubt but the strength to keep going through it.”
8.“We tell the truth because it’s the lie that’s easiest to believe.”
9.“I was born thirsty, and I’ve stayed that way.”
10.“To name a thing is to see it clearly, and to see it clearly is to start the work of change.”
Kaveh Akbar Facts
1.Kaveh Akbar was born in Tehran, Iran, and immigrated to the United States as a child.
2.His first poetry collection, Calling a Wolf a Wolf, explores his journey through addiction and recovery.
3.Akbar is the founder of Divedapper, a project dedicated to interviews with contemporary poets.
4.He published Pilgrim Bell, his second collection, in 2021, focusing on themes of spirituality and silence.
5.Akbar’s work has appeared in prestigious outlets such as The New Yorker and The Paris Review.
6.He is the editor of The Penguin Book of Spiritual Verse, which gathers poetry from various traditions.
7.Akbar frequently blends Persian cultural influences and American literary traditions in his work.
8.He has received numerous accolades, including the Pushcart Prize and the Levis Reading Prize.
9.Akbar’s poetry often explores the interplay of language, identity, and memory, reflecting his bicultural upbringing.
10.He is also an educator, teaching poetry at Purdue University and holding visiting appointments elsewhere.