UPDATE: This event has been rescheduled for April 10th due to inclement weather.
ESCANABA, Mich. (WZMQ) – The Escanaba Public Library is kicking off National Poetry Month with a special event this week.
“The library celebrates National Poetry Month every year,” said Library Director Carolyn Stacey. “It is in recognition and appreciation of poetry and poets in our lives and culture.”
On Wednesday, April 3, the library is hosting a poetry reading featuring three local poets—Jillena Rose, M. Kelly Peach, and UP Laureate Foundation Vice President Lisa Fosmo. Fosmo will be reading from Mercy Is a Bright Darkness, a collection of her poetry published last fall.
“The cover is a photograph that I took down at our own Escanaba Beach,” Fosmo said. “It’s a little bookend, a rare bronze from 1920. I took it down to the beach and photographed her holding the sun.”
The Escanaba resident says much of Mercy Is a Bright Darkness is based in the Upper Peninsula.
“A lot of it takes place on Lake Michigan,” said Fosmo. “There’s a lot of family, nature. It really does speak to the U.P. It’s something that anyone can relate to, but people of the U.P. especially. This is such an incredibly beautiful part of the country and we’re so blessed to be here.”
Fosmo says many people have misconceptions about poetry. She encourages them to attend the poetry reading and to explore new genres and poets throughout the month.
“People will say, ‘I don’t like poetry; I don’t get it,'” said Fosmo. “Basically, what that means is they haven’t had enough exposure, because there really is poetry and a poet for every person. That’s why it’s kind of nice to have one poet reading. You’re going to be exposed to so many different types of poetry, and that’s really important.”
The Escanaba Public Library is also promoting its poetry collection throughout the month.
“We encourage readers to maybe delve into reading some poetry if they haven’t before,” Stacey said. “It’s a great chance for us to support our local poets and writers.”
Wednesday’s poetry reading will begin at 5:30 p.m. No registration is required. For more information on the event and the poets who will be featured, click here.
