Berlin has always been a haven for American poets, and Independence Day will heighten the interest here.

Berliners should turn up in their droves for USA-Tag at the Akademie der Künste (arranged by the Literaturwerkstatt), an American poetry extravaganza split into four parts. Get there at 5pm to see Sherwin Bitsui share his theory on ‘the colours of poetry’. At 6:30pm, Rosmarie Waldrop and Christian Hawkey, will offer thoughts and words on US-German migration. An examination of poetry influenced by immigration with four US pets including the illuminating Rita Dove follows at 8pm, under the watchful gaze of some eminent academics from the JFK Institute.

And those clever folks at the AdK have saved the best until last: the highlight of the evening comes at 10pm, when spoken-word prodigy and star of the 1998 film Slam Saul Williams (also famous for his work with the Fugees, Allen Ginsberg and Nine Inch Nails) will perform. The Nuyorican Poets Café in New York’s Edwin Torres, who combines hip-hop with spoken-word and audience participation, will accompany him.