According to their website, 178 poets and presenters are reading, leading workshops or performing at the Massachusetts Poetry Festival this coming weekend, with simultaneous launches all over the state. There’s a High School Poets Program, a huge slate of workshops, many many readings — and it’s free!
If you’re attending on Saturday, come look me up. I’ll be at the Small Press Fair, staffing the Tupelo Press table –stop by, say hi, and buy a book or three.
Please note, they’re encouraging all Saturday attendees to check in at Festival Central, and everyone who does will be entered in a raffle. The Poetry Box, according to the website, will contain:
- A gift certificate from Grub Street entitling you to attend one of their courses.
- A gift certificate to attend one session with PoemWorks and Barbara Helfgott Hyett.
- A gift certificate from Grolier’s in Harvard Square.
- An assortment of poetry books.
Free books? I don’t need to be asked twice! There is just an outrageous number of events happening — I hope you’re able to participate.
This is the only the second year of the Festival, and this year’s even more ambitious, so here’s hoping it’s wildly successful and sure to return for years to come.
And to whet your whistle, ReadWritePoem, in partnership with the Festival, is running a special series, wherein featured readers at the Festival were asked to answer the question, “What is poetry?” The results are as varied and intriguing as the poets: a wordle from Joan Houlihan, a pastiche of quotes & frank ruminations from Jeffrey Harrison. Take a gander, and offer your own thoughts, too — no grades allowed, but class participation is highly encouraged.
Marie Gauthier 
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