World Poetry Day is celebrated at Pynchon & Co. Bookstore in Alicante, marking a gathering that highlights the living pulse of contemporary verse. On March 21 at 7:00 PM, the literary project Binary Routes will present a poetry cycle designed to bring together voices from across the poetic landscape in a transversal, boundary-crossing fashion. The initiative, rooted in a blend of passion and cultural activism, grew from a desire to illuminate poetry without gatekeeping and to invite readers into a shared space where words travel freely between minds.
The manifesto behind Binary Routes frames poetry as a wildflower that can sprout on walls or along road margins, proof that poetic expression is not always planted with a plan. It emphasizes how poetry forms electric networks among words, and how poets act as rapid transmitters who illuminate any space in a single, electric moment. This spirit guides each edition, encouraging spontaneity, accessibility, and connectivity within the poetic community.
The organizers, with Esther Abellán and Pedro Serrano leading the effort, aim to create a space that reveals the poet in full. Attendees will gain insights into the career trajectories, awards, publications, and unpublished works of invited poets, presented in an intimate format that invites curiosity and dialogue. The event will unfold with a compact sequence of readings and discussion blocks designed to deepen engagement with the verses and the voices behind them. This edition is non-commercial, limited in number, and presented with typography chosen for readability by readers with visual impairment. Each segment will feature a symbolic totem on the back cover that captures the core themes of the invited writer, their perspective, or their approach to verse.
Katy Parra
Binary Routes sets out to nurture connections and open channels among poetry enthusiasts. Every seasonal edition offers a new gathering that helps shape a rugged, plural path through the literary landscape. The project launches into spring with Katy Parra, a self-taught writer and entrepreneur who has helped found literary collectives and led poetry workshops across the Region of Murcia. Parra has become a recognizable voice in contemporary poetry through her diverse body of work and her active role in community-based literary projects.
Parra’s published collections include Acordes en soledad, Síntomas de olvido, Espejos para huir hacia otra orilla, Coma idílico, Por si los pájaros, Licencia para bailar, Memorias de un gato de buena familia, and Animalicias. Her work has earned multiple recognitions, reflecting a sustained commitment to the craft and to bringing poetry into public conversation. Among the accolades are placements and finalist positions in national and regional poetry prizes across Spain, highlighting a track record of innovation, humor, and social resonance in verse. The recognition includes early distinctions in Jumilla, accolades in Toledo, a finalist nod from the University of Murcia, and several regional and national prizes that mark her as a persistent, resonant voice within the contemporary scene. She continues to collaborate with literary groups, contribute to workshops, and participate in events that explore how poetry travels across communities and borders, offering fresh angles on themes both intimate and universal.
The evening with Binary Routes is designed to be more than a reading series. It is a cultural space where ideas circulate, where readers connect with poets on a personal level, and where the act of listening becomes a shared creative act. The format invites exploration of the craft, from the discipline of formal structure to the spontaneity of spoken word, inviting participants to witness the evolution of a poem from written page to spoken performance. Attendees can expect an inclusive atmosphere that welcomes diverse voices and encourages new readers to discover the power of poetry as a living practice that speaks to everyday life and the wider world. The program will maintain accessibility as a core value, ensuring that the experience remains open and legible to a broad audience while preserving the integrity of each poet’s voice.
The Alicante event is part of a broader movement to reframe how poetry engages with public spaces. It underlines the belief that verse can become a shared infrastructure—an informal network of ideas that crosses disciplines, communities, and languages. Through Binary Routes, readers encounter a curated selection of poems, along with discussions that illuminate the writing process, the influences behind each piece, and the ways in which a poem travels from the page to performance. The project’s ongoing aim is to build ongoing conversation around poetry by creating regular, accessible opportunities for exchange and discovery. Patrons experience a window into a living literary ecosystem, one that rewards curiosity, encourages inquiry, and celebrates the vitality of poetic practice across different generations and regions.