David Lee Morgan: A Global Voice of Performance Poetry and Cultural Dialogue

David Lee Morgan: A Global Voice of Performance Poetry and Cultural Dialogue

David Lee Morgan is an internationally acclaimed performance poet, spoken-word artist, writer, and musician whose work continues to bridge cultures, languages, and literary traditions across continents. A cherished family member of Shikor and Global Poet and Poetry, his recent journey through the United States and India stands as a powerful example of poetry as a live experience, intellectual exchange, and global connection.

Born in Berlin, raised in the United States, and currently based in London, David Lee Morgan has spent decades shaping and expanding the field of performance poetry. He is widely known for his compelling stage presence, rhythmic intensity, and the intellectual depth of his work, which engages themes of history, resistance, love, gender, identity, and human dignity.

David Lee Morgan is a winner of prestigious poetry slam championships, including London and BBC Slam Poetry titles, and has performed extensively across the UK, Ireland, Europe, and the United States. His appearances at major festivals and venues, ranging from literary festivals and universities to grassroots cultural spaces, have earned him critical praise for performances that combine emotional force with sharp political and philosophical insight.

Alongside performance, Morgan has published several significant poetry collections and performance texts. His works are widely read and performed within spoken-word communities and are often used in workshops and academic discussions. His writing is marked by clarity of voice, musical structure, and a fearless engagement with complex social realities.

In recent months, David Lee Morgan undertook a series of poetry readings, seminars, and academic interactions across various cities in the United States, engaging deeply with poets, students, and literary communities. These events reinforced his longstanding connection with American spoken-word traditions and contemporary performance poetry.

Following this, he travelled to India, where his work found a particularly resonant reception, especially in Kolkata, a city globally renowned for its literary heritage and multilingual cultural life.

Kolkata Engagements: Performance, Conversation and Collaboration

David Lee Morgan’s presence in Kolkata unfolded through a series of meaningful literary, academic, and community engagements.

On 21 January, following an invitation from poet and editor Prabal Kumar Basu, Chairman of the Kolkata InternationalFoundation for Arts, Literature and Culture (KIFALC), he participated in a significant cultural programme at KIFALC organised by M. K. Singh. The event featured Dr Deepti Agarwal, Sunita Narayan, and Dr Sarita Boodhoo, descendants of indentured servants from Mauritius and other regions, who presented songs and poetry reflecting the historical and social realities of the double exploitation faced by women. David Lee Morgan was invited to conclude the programme with selected poems, adding an international poetic voice to this deeply reflective gathering.

On 25 January, he performed at a memorable rooftop poetry event in Kolkata’s old city, sharing the space with eminent poets including Subodh Sarkar and Ashwani Kumar. The performance highlighted his ability to connect with audiences in intimate, informal settings through voice, rhythm, and embodied storytelling.

A major academic highlight took place on 29 January at the Senate Hall, University of Calcutta, where Subodh Sarkar and David Lee Morgan presented poems and conversation. Organised by Sucharita Banerjee, Head of the Department of Bengali Language and Literature, the event brought together poetry, dialogue, and cross-cultural literary reflection, emphasising the relevance of performance poetry within scholarly contexts.

From 29 January onward, David Lee Morgan served as guest poet at the Poetry Caravan Open Mic at the Kolkata International Book Fair, hosted by Subodh Sarkar. Over several days, his performances reached diverse audiences, including poets, students, translators, and readers from across India and abroad.

On 30 January, he participated in an interview and discussion with Subodh Sarkar and Bappaditya Roy Biswas, translator of Subodh Sarkar’s sonnet collection Amour & Anger, recorded for a Penfriends radio broadcast, further extending these literary exchanges beyond the live audience.

A Landmark Performance and translation of Nazrul Islam’s Bidrohi, among all his appearances in India, David Lee Morgan’s English translation and performance of Kazi Nazrul Islam’s iconic poem “Bidrohi” (The Rebel) emerged as a defining and historic moment.

More than a translation, Morgan’s rendering of Bidrohi was a performative re-awakening of the poem’s revolutionary spirit. Through careful linguistic choices, rhythmic intensity, and commanding vocal delivery, he conveyed the defiance, musicality, and emotional power of Nazrul’s original Bengali text to global audiences unfamiliar with the language.

This performance has been widely regarded as one of the most powerful and sensitive English interpretations of Bidrohi, honouring Nazrul Islam’s legacy while demonstrating how translation itself can act as a bridge between cultures and generations.

Community Outreach and Educational Engagement in Kolkata, where David Lee Morgan’s visit to India also included outreach beyond major literary venues. On 6 February, he appeared at a primary school in Chandpara, introducing children to poetry through live performance and interaction. On 10 February, he participated in a literary event at Kalinarayanpur, organised by Basudev Kundu, continuing his engagement with regional and community-based audiences.

David Lee Morgan celebrated his birthday on 27 January in Kolkata and received warm wishes from poets, readers, and literary organisations worldwide, including Shikor and Global Poet and Poetry Family. These acknowledgements reflect not only personal bonds but also his lasting contribution to international poetry communities.

As a valued member of Shikor and Global Poet and Poetry, David Lee Morgan embodies the organisation’s commitment to global poetic exchange, performance, translation, and collaboration. His work strengthens the platform’s mission to connect poets across borders and to keep poetry alive as a living, spoken, and shared art form.

Following his Kolkata engagements, David Lee Morgan continues his journey toward Mumbai in March this year, where he is scheduled to perform at upcoming Fringe events, bringing with him the same spirit of artistic courage, cultural dialogue, and poetic excellence.

The Shikor Global Poet and Poetry Family extends its warmest wishes to David Lee Morgan, celebrating not only his birthday on 27 January but also his remarkable journey as a global poet, performer, and cultural bridge-builder. We are proud to acknowledge his powerful contributions to contemporary performance poetry, his exceptional translation and performance of Kazi Nazrul Islam’s “Bidrohi”, and his deep engagement with poets, scholars, students, and communities across the UK, United States and India and other parts of the world. His presence continues to enrich our shared literary space and to strengthen international poetic dialogue.

Shikor Global Poet and Poetry Family wishes David Lee Morgan continued creativity, good health, and many more inspiring journeys ahead, carrying poetry across borders and into the hearts of people worldwide.

Faruk Ahmed Roni
Editor
Shikor and Global Poet and Poetry

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