The Berlin Speech on Poetry will be delivered on July 21, 2024, by the American poet Terrance Hayes.

Terrance Hayes, a poet from South Carolina, USA, explores themes of popular culture, music, and society in his seven published poetry collections: What does it mean to be a Black man living in America? His poetry reflects grace, tenderness, and the unvarnished truth that lies behind his lines, as well as the open and generous way he describes the world. He has been widely praised for his disarming humor and his brilliant turns of phrase.

The New York Times wrote about his collection "Lighthead": "Hayes' book puts restless wordplay in the service of strong emotions: The frustration of a son, the love of a husband, the righteous anger of a citizen, and the erotic jealousy of a friend animate these technically sophisticated, even enigmatic lines." He also describes the great importance that feelings hold for him: "I am searching for a language that can free itself from people's expectations. I think music is the primary model - how close can you bring this language to music and convey emotions on a fundamental level, just as a composition conveys meaning without words? That seems impossible. Language is always burdened by thoughts. I am simply trying to shape it so that it can feel like a feeling.".