Since 1996, the Friends and the City Library have been sponsoring an annual reading of favorite poems by city residents and others in the area. Originally a joint project with the Washington Adventist University English Department, the yearly gathering is modeled on the Favorite Poem Project undertaken by Robert Pinsky, then Poet Laureate of the United States. “Poetry is not a luxury,” wrote Audre Lorde, “but a vital necessity of our existence.” With this in mind, readers gather in the library each April, each in turn reading a poem that has special meaning for them.
This year’s reading took place on Tuesday, April 24. More than 20 local residents read a diverse collection of favorite poems. Below is a slide show of pictures from the evening.
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