‘On the Grass of Exile’: Audio and Poetry Installation Organised by City of Asylum Detroit
On Saturday, 12 September 2026, City of Asylum Detroit opened an outdoor audio and poetry installation at the American Riad in Detroit, Michigan. The American Riad is a community space dedicated to arts, culture, gatherings, and performances. The installation was created in partnership with the Poetry Foundation.
‘I’m sipping the cups of time drifting away on the grass of exile.’ - Nada Al Khawwam, On the Grass of Exile
Named after Nada Al Khawwam’s poem ‘On the Grass of Exile’, the installation features poetry presented in its original language alongside English translations. The poems were selected from the June/August 2026 issue of Poetry magazine, published by the Poetry Foundation. The issue included works by Raafat Hekmat, Aaiún Nin, Hussein Al-Dahir, Irakli Kakabadze, and Nada Al Khawwam, all poets and writers within the ICORN network. Find out more about this here.
The opening event featured live poetry readings, music, and a free community meal. It also marked the beginning of an initiative to establish an Exile Reading Garden, a project that aims to serve as both an artistic installation and a community gathering space.
Learn more here.
