Her poetry is influenced by the life and times of women writers, often reinventing the ancient forms of these writers, such as the zuihitsu, or "pillow book," and nu shu, a nearly extinct script Chinese women used to correspond with one another. She's published several books of poetry, including Toxic Flora and The Narrow Road to the Interior and her work has twice been featured in The New Yorker. She reads here today as a part of the Pittsburgh Contemporary Writers Series. WG 8:30 p.m. Thu., Nov. 4. Frick Fine Arts Auditorium, Schenley Drive, Oakland. Free. 412-624-6508 or www.creativewriting.pitt.edu