New York City is under invasion and there is no better invasion than a poetic one. Today marks day one of The 3rd Annual Encuentro de Nueva Poesía, a weeklong series of events throughout NYC that brings together written and spoken word artists from various corners of the planet.

The Encuentro has two successful antecedents. The first time the Festival “Poetas en Nueva York” was carried out was in April 2004, in honor of Pedro Pietri, and over 20 poets participated, for three days, in events at Nuyorican Poets’ Café in Manhattan’s Lower East Side. The second iteration, where the name Encuentro de Nueva Poesía was coined, was celebrated in October 2005. It then included the participation of over 40 poets from diverse backgrounds, among them residents of New York who were originally from countries like Costa Rica, Colombia, Ecuador, and the Dominican Republic. It also counted with the presence of a delegation of Puerto Rican poets and artists who traveled to New York City solely for the purpose of participating in the events. The Encounter took place in diverse settings in Upper and Lower Manhattan, as well as the Boroughs of Brooklyn and Queens, and concluded with the publication of a poetry anthology with the artists’ works.

This year over 100 artists will particpate, keeping the focus on poetry but including musicians and visual artists as well. Additionally efforts have been made to include artists of diverse geographic and national backgrounds. Tonight at 6 pm at St. Marks Church (10th Street and 2nd Avenue) is the jump off reception. And yes full disclosure, yours truely will be representing.

For a full listing of events and for more information visit: the Official site of the 3 Encuentro de Nueva Poesia.