Headshot of Elizabeth Pérez

The department is pleased to announce that Dr. Elizabeth Pérez received the River Heron Editors' Prize for her poem "Independence Night." Dr. Pérez based this poem on the true story of her father's flight from Cuba and dedicated it here to immigrants and those advocating for them. Read the poem and her full artist's statement here.

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Text of "Independence Night"
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Continued Text of "Independence Night"
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Continued Text of "Independence Night"