03 6:30 $8 Mark Doty / Sharon Olds. National Book Foundation, Blue Heron Arts Center, 123 E 24th St. Info: (212) 685-0261; www.nationalbook.org.

06 7:30 $10 (multiple sessions) Lake Ivan Performance Group: Words Worth Singing, from Auden, Yeats, Poe, Leonard Cohen, etc. 17th Annual Word/Play at Medicine Show, 549 W 52nd St. (212) 262-4216.

*11 Wed 8 $10-15 A Tribute to Stanley Kunitz, U.S. Poet Laureate.

Presented by The Academy of American Poets, The New York Times, Poetry Society of America, Poets House, and YMCA National Writers Voice, featuring Lucille Clifton, Mark Doty, Marie Howe, Yusef Komunyakaa, Sharon Olds, Robert Pinsky, Gerald Stern, C. K. Williams, and Stanley Kunitz. Town Hall, 123 W. 43rd St. Phone for tickets (212) 274-0343 x 10.

*12 Thurs 9 Free. Eighth Annual Dante's Inferno Marathon and Organ Meditation: Cornelius Eady, Marilyn Nelson, Aga Shahid Ali, Lucie Brock Broido, Lucy Grealey, Phillis Levin, Donna Masini, Michael Palma, Molly Peacock, Peggy Penn, Claudia Rankine, Susan Wheeler, Cynthia Zarin. American Poets’ Corner, Cathedral of St. John the Divine, 112th St & Amsterdam Ave. (212) 316-7749.

*13 Fri 7 $5 Seamus Heaney on Translation / NYU, 24 Waverly Place, Room 703. (212) 431-7920. www.poetshouse.org.

*18 Wed 8 $18 The Best American Poetry 2000. A.R. Ammons, Lucille Clifton, Billy Collins, Donald Justice, Carolyn Kizer, Mary Oliver, Robert Pinsky, Mary Jo Salter, Quincy Troupe, Paul Violi, Richard Wilbur, Mark Strand, Frank McCourt. Symphony Space, 95th / B'way. Tickets: (212) 864-5400. Info: 864-1414.

19 Thurs 7 $50-$1000 Toni Morrison, Reading and Benefit for NYU's Goldwater Teaching Project. Lipton Hall, 108 W 3rd St. (212) 998-8816.

20 Fri / 27 Fri 7 Free. Hunter College MFA Graduates Reading. 68th /Lex, 8th Fl. (212) 772-5164.

21 Sat 6 William Blake Reading. Metropolitan Museum, 1000 5th Av. Info: Pia Quintano, (212) 570-3807.

22 Sun 5 Free. Launch Reading: Fence No. 7. Teachers & Writers Collaborative, 5 Union Sq W. Reception follows.

23 Mon 8:15 $12 Discovery/The Nation Contest Winners. 92nd St Y, Lex/92nd St. (212) 996-1100. www.92ndsty.org.

25 Wed 8 Best American Short Stories, hosted by E.L. Doctorow. Symphony Space, 95th/B'way. Tickets: (212) 864-5400. Info: 864-1414.

28 Sat 6 Free. Poetry and Imagery from India. Metropolitan Museum, 1000 5th Av. (212) 570-3807.

30 Sun 7:30 $30 Benefit for Fence. Decreation: An Opera in Three Parts by Anne Carson. The Culture Project, 49 Bleecker. Reception follows. (212) 254-3660.

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* Highly recommended.