Public Poetry

A rainy Saturday certainly didn’t put a damper on Public Poetry.   Our special guest, ABC-TV local news anchor, Art Rascon, started the event with three gorgeous poems by Pablo Neruda (One Hundred Love Sonnets: XVI;  Tie your heart at night to mine, love; and Song of Despair)  and also Love After Love by Derek Walcott –  February being a month when matters of love and the heart are usually given a hearing.  We know that both of these  Nobel Prize winning poets began writing poetry at an early age, and Public Poetry has been doing its part to encourge the next generation of poets by including  talented young students mid-way and at the close of at each event.  Now, we’re also awarding each one a poetry certificate to commemorate their reading.  Don’t you know, these kids were really pleased and proud to be officially recognized as poets. 

Of course, the main event was provided by five featured poets,  Alan Ainsworth, Joseph Campana, Sarah Cortez, Jeannie Gambill and Van G. Garrett, each lending their distinctive voices to the program.  Two poets were recorded for radio on The Front Row.   Find out who by listening here.   We’ll be back again at Park Place Regional Library on Saturday, March 3, to conclude our winter series with poets Hayan Charara, Ryler Dustin, Marcell Murphy and Susan Wood.

We’ll be posting information shortly about our ARTlines events at The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston on Saturday, April 21.  Be sure to save the date.  You won’t want to miss it!

In the final week of this year, the Houston Chronicle printed a feature story on the front page of the City & State section, highlighting Public Poetry’s programs. Mayor Annise Parker, The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston and Houston Public Library all had great things to say about poetry. You can read the full story here.

The ARTlines competition featured heavily in the article, and brought record numbers to the web site. Imagine having the opportunity to present your poetry to museum goers and to be honored during National Poetry Month at a special museum event, followed by an MFAH reception. That could be happening to you, if yours is one of the 9 winning entries!  There are still a couple of days left to submit. Get complete information here.

Public Poetry will be ringing in 2012 with a new Winter Series at Park Place Regional Library on Saturday, January 7 at 2:00 PM. In addition to our featured poets – Outspoken Bean, Radames Ortiz, Loueva Smith and Randall Watson – we’re delighted to have Ad Deum Dance Company (dance video) as our special guest at the start, as well as a talented student poet joining us.

 Located at 8145 Park Place, 77017, Park Place Regional Library is easy to find; it’s very close to the intersection of I-45 and Loop 610. From 610, take I-45 south. Traveling on I-45, take exit 39. (This is also an exit for Hobby Airport). On the south feeder, go under the freeway at the 2nd underpass (Broadway), and then turn right onto Park Place. The library is just one block from the freeway, on the left side of the street. There’s plenty of free parking, too.

Thanks for making 2011 a fabulous year.  Happy New Year everyone.  See you again in 2012.

We’ve extended the early entry deadline for the ARTlines competition from November 15th to the end of the month, Wednesday, November 30, 2011. However, to stay on schedule with The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, the final deadline of December 30, 2011 cannot be changed.

WHY SUMBIT AN EARLY ENTRY?   Because you can take advantage of a reduced entry fee. Because the Single Entry option for submitting one poem only will go away after November 30th (you can still submit one poem, but you’ll be charged the same as those who submit up to three poems.) Because you can use some of your time over Thanksgiving to compose or revise your work. Because you can check “Enter ARTlines Competition” off your To-Do list!