living, speaking poetry

Poetry is necessary!  It supplies our minds and souls with valuable access to this mysterious gig we call life. Beyond that, I’ll let you in on a secret: poetry is fun. Somewhere along the line, poetry got a bad rep for being indecipherable, cryptic and awkwardly rhymed, but I prefer Emily Dickinson’s description quoted in this passionate essay:

“If I read a book [and] it makes my whole body so cold no fire can ever warm me I know that is poetry. If I feel physically as if the top of my head were taken off, I know that is poetry. These are the only way I know. Is there any other way.”

With her own visceral response to inspire us, it’s fitting that Dickinson is the first poet we’ll discuss in our brand new book discussion called “3 Poems by…” The 3 Poems by… Poetry Discussion Group will discuss three poems by a selected poet or about a selected topic. Join us for lively discussions of your favorite poetry!  Here’s our schedule:

October 9, 2008
3 Poems by Emily Dickinson

“Because I could not stop for Death”
“There’s a certain Slant of light”
“After great pain, a formal feeling comes”

November 13, 2008
3 Poems by e.e. cummings

January 8, 2009
3 Poems by Mary Oliver

February 12, 2009
3 Poems by Billy Collins
(Attend the discussion to enter to win tickets to the Drue Heinz Lecture Series on March 2, 2009!)

March 12, 2009
3 Poems about…Time

April 9, 2009
3 Poems by Sharon Olds

All discussions will meet from7:30 pm to 8:30 pm in the Center for Museum Education – Classroom A. Discussions are free and open to the public.  Registration is encouraged, but not required.  To register or ask questions, contact poetry fans and Eleventhstack blogonauts Renée or Don at newandfeatured@carnegielibrary.org or 412-622-3151.

p.s.

As long as I’m talking up poetry, I have to remind you to treat yourself to some live and in person (and free, of course!) verse by going to the next Sunday Poetry and Reading Series at 2:00 pm on September 21st: Barbara Edelman and Sharon F. McDermott will give readings.

p.p.s.

Also, don’t forget to check out the phenomenal International Poetry Collection on the second floor of the Main branch. Collecting poetic works in both the original language and in translation plus plenty of poetry recordings, it’s a poetry lover’s dream come true!

–Renée