Judith Bowles — They Spoke of the River - with David Keplinger

Judith Bowles presents her third poetry collection, *They Spoke of the River*, in conversation with poet, translator, professor, and mindfulness teacher David Keplinger. The collection draws on Ohio poets Mary Oliver and James Wright, the ghazals of Rumi, and the plainspoken work of Robert Frost and William Stafford. Bowles follows the voices and oral histories of her Ohio roots, bringing together history, childhood, marriage, and elegy in a book that reflects on the broader American experience.

Bowles is the author of *The Gatherer* (2014) and *Unlocatable Source* (2019). She has held residencies at Bloedel Reserve, Breadloaf, and the Kenyon Summer Writers Retreat, earned an MFA in creative writing from American University, and taught creative writing there. Keplinger is the author of *Ice* (2023), *The World to Come*, *Another City*, and four other poetry collections. He has taught at American University since 2007.

When: Sunday, November 15, 2026

Showtime: 5:00 p.m.

Venue: Politics and Prose at 5015 Connecticut Avenue NW, 5015 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

Participants: Judith Bowles and David Keplinger

Tickets: Free, with first-come, first-served seating

Featured book: *They Spoke of the River: Poems* by Judith Bowles is available for $22.99

Accessibility: To request accommodations or ask about accessibility, email events@politics-prose.com, ideally at least one week before the event. The venue will make an effort to accommodate requests made up to the event time.