Leelanau Township Library will celebrate National Poetry Month with two events this year: a book reading on April 3 and an open mic night on April 17. Since 1996, April has been designated as a month to recognize and enjoy poets and their craft.
The April 3 event will feature authors Linda Nemec Foster and Anne-Marie Oomen who will read from their newest book released in October called “The Lake Huron Mermaid.” Foster is a Pulitzer Prize nominated poet and the author of 14 collections of poetry including “Bone Country” and “The Blue Divide.” Foster was also the inaugural poet laureate of Grand Rapids from 2003-2005, and is the founder of the Contemporary Writers Series at Aquinas College.
Oomen teaches in the Solstice MFA program at Lasell University and at the Interlochen College of Creative Arts. She is an accomplished award-winning writer, poet and playwright, and is the founding editor of Dunes Review. Both Foster and Oomen have previously collaborated on another award-winning book, “The Lake Michigan Mermaid: a tale in poems.”
The Friends of Leelanau Township Library have held multiple poetry month events typically on Tuesdays in years past, said Alison Arthur, volunteer chair of the event series. Arthur said it’s difficult to get people to attend every one of those event nights in April, so this year, they’re limiting the activities to two days and switching events to Thursday evenings instead.
Arthur, who has been helping to organize the annual poetry events with the Friends of Leelanau Township Library for the last several years, said her favorite part about putting on the activities is getting as many peoples’ voices heard as possible, especially with youth.
“My excitement is to get anyone to come and stand up and read their work… It’s safe to say every year we’ve had some young person get up (and read).
On the other hand, seeing adults get up there shaking and doing it is also pretty cool. It’s extraordinary to witness people of any age get up and share their art and emotions with us,” Arthur said, adding that she plans to read some of her own poetry during open mic night. “It’s an opportunity for people to express creativity in their own words.”
On April 17, attendees can bring a poem to share during open mic night or they can just come by to listen. All are welcome to participate in poetry month activities starting at 7 p.m. on the set dates. For more information, call the library at 231-386-5131 or visit its updated website at www.leelanautownshiplibrary. org.
Authors Linda Nemec Foster and Anne-Marie Oomen will read from their new book, “The Lake Huron Mermaid: A tale of poems,” for poetry month at Leelanau Township Library. Courtesy photo
