“It is difficult
to get the news from poems
yet men die miserably every day
for lack of what is found there.”
—William Carlos Williams, from “Asphodel, That Greeny Flower”

The Academy of American Poets is celebrating the 10th annual National Poetry Month in April. The concept sounds highbrow, the reality is hardly that. Poetry is for everyone, and a visit to their Web site at www.poets.org offers anyone entry into the world of words. The home page, in addition to a bit of verse, offers a “readers write” section called “Lifelines,” where readers share lines that live intimately with them in their daily lives; a “poem a day,” featuring new work from recently published books delivered daily to your inbox; a “Poetcast” podcast and “Listening Booth” with clips from the archives; and a national calendar of events.

Locally, grassroots poets have taken matters into their own hands, offering a series of free events to celebrate the spirit of poetry. Here are more than a few ways to hold “eternity in an hour.”

Open Mike at Weeks Public Library

Tony Marino of North Hampton will host an open mike, reading some of his own poems then opening the floor to the audience, on Tuesday, April 11 at 7 p.m. All ages are welcome. For more information, call the library at 603-436-8548.

Poetry Night at the North Hampton Library

A mini-mike will be held at North Hampton Public Library on Monday, April 10, when young people are invited to come share a favorite poem or a poem they have written, in celebration of Young People’s Poetry Week, created by the Children’s Book council in collaboration with the American Academy of Poets and the Center for the Book. The reading, hosted by Tony Marino of North Hampton, starts at 7 p.m. and, crucial for poets of all ages, will be followed by refreshments. For more information, call the library at 603-964-6326. 

Where the River Meets the Tide

On Saturday, April 1, local poet and writer Diana Durham hosted an open poetry reading at the Exeter Public Library, featuring poets published in the anthology, “Exeter, New Hampshire…where the river meets the tide.” If you missed the reading, the 96-page book, published by Publishing Works, is still available for purchase at the library for $18, and a concurrent art exhibit continues at the library through April. For more information, call the library at 603-772-3101.

C.K. Williams

A couple of times a year, the good folks who run the Lamont Poetry Series at Phillips’ Exeter Academy do the poetic equivalent of bringing Eddie Vedder to play at The Press Room. Poets otherwise unlikely to ever step foot north of New York are suddenly reading in our back yard, and everyone’s invited, for free. Past guests of the series, endowed in 1982 by Corliss Lamont, include Carolyn Forché, Jorge Luis Borges and Seamus Heaney, among others. On Wednesday, April 12 at 7:30 p.m., poet and Pulitzer Prize winner C.K. Williams will read from a body of work that includes “The Singing” (2003), which won the National Book Award in 2003; “Repair” (1999), winner of the 2000 Pulitzer Prize; “The Vigil” (1997); “A Dream of Mind (1992); “Flesh and Blood” (1987), which won the National Book Critics Circle Award; “Tar” (1983); “With Ignorance” (1997); “I Am the Bitter Name” (1992); and “Lies” (1969). Williams teaches in the creative writing program at Princeton University and lives a part of each year in Paris. The reading will take place inside the Assembly Hall, located on the second floor of the Academy Building on Front Street in Exeter. For more information, call Academy Librarian Jacquelyn Thomas at 603-777-3328.

“What Is Home?”

Everyone’s welcome to explore the question “What is Home?” at the Rye Public Library with Portsmouth Poet Laureate Mimi White on Wednesday, April 19 at 6:30 p.m. Participants will write, share and discover what it is that makes us feel at home. This program is an offshoot of a project the Portsmouth Poet Laureate Program created this winter, in which five community writing groups of 10 members each met over six weeks to explore the theme under the direction of experienced local poets and teachers. In the fall of 2006, some of these pieces will be collected in a chapbook, and the Voices from the Heart women’s chorus and Pontine Theatre will present songs and theater pieces based on the work.

The Other Side of Sorrow

The Poetry Society of New Hampshire is releasing its latest anthology with a bang. The public is invited to a free gala event at The Governor’s Inn in Rochester to hear poets read from “The Other Side of Sorrow: Poets Speak Out About Conflict, War and Peace,” more than 250 poems that consider war and peace, both now and throughout our history.

The idea for the book began when poet Sam Hamill called on like-minded poets nationwide to host community readings to address the impending war against Iraq. Both readers and audiences, many of them veterans, were surprised by the deep grief, anger and hope expressed, says Pat Frisella, president of PSNH. The idea of a book followed naturally.

Among the poets included in the anthology are Pulitzer prize-winner Maxine Kumin and several state poets laureate who were gathered in New Hampshire for the “Poetry and Politics” conference just before the invasion of Iraq in 2003. Some contributors are also veteran poets of wars from WWII through the current Iraq war.

Planning to attend the release of the anthology are a cast of favorites, including Becca Krasner, Cicely Buckley, Dudley Laufman, Tess Baumberger, Annaliese Jakimides, Maggie Kemp, Maren Tirabassi, Ethan Gilsdorf, Priscilla Sears, Hugh Hennedy, Martin Steingesser, Fred Samuels, Marylin Lytle Barr, Katie Towler, Lee Sharkey, Robert Dunn, Priscilla Burlingham, Julia Older, John Perrault, Mark Schorr, Lois Frankenberger, Pat Frisella, Richard Cambridge, Nancy Donovan, Mimi White, Ursula Hoene, Eberhard Hoene, Michael Macklin, Paul Nichols, Mike Albert, David Peloquin and others.

The reading takes place on Sunday, April 23 from 3 to 6 p.m. at The Governor’s Inn, 78 Wakefield St. A somewhat smaller reading will take place on Tuesday, April 11 at 7 p.m. at RiverRun Bookstore, 7 Commercial Alley, Portsmouth, 603-431-2100.

The 240 page book is also available through the Poetry Society of New Hampshire (31 Reservoir Road, Farmington, NH, 03835) and at area book stores.

road trip

Poets under the dome: Current New Hampshire Poet Laureate Patricia Fargnoli will be joined by former office holders Cynthia Huntington and Maxine Kumin in a Poetry Society of New Hampshire National Poetry Month reading, Saturday, April 15 at 3 p.m. at The State Library, 20 Park St., Concord.

For more information, call the PSNH at 603-332-0732.

Jazzmouth

Remember the character with the flip-top head from the Reach toothbrush commercials? That’s what it feels like to be around Larry Simon when he’s planning Jazzmouth, the annual celebration of the tradition of poetry and jazz that seemed to spring to life fully formed last year. It’s “a very ambitious project with a very small budget,” as he says, and the thoroughly original concept is the only celebration of its kind in the world. April 20-23, in between the usual tourists, downtown Portsmouth will fill with internationally recognized poets and musicians, Beat Night regulars and young writers, all converging to celebrate the spoken word and music in a series of films and live performances.

The schedule includes traditional jazz music and a Super Beat Night Extravaganza at the Press Room on Thursday; a Poetry Coffee Break at Ceres Bakery and a Poetry Dinner at the Dolphin Striker, as well as more jazz at The Press Room, on Friday; and a Poetry and Jazz Brunch at the Library Restaurant on Sunday. There will also be a workshop, a youth Beat Night and a film screening.

The highlight of the weekend is the Jazzmouth Extravaganza at the South Church, an evening of music, poetry and collaborations, featuring David Amram, composer and musical collaborator with the original Beats; Ed Sanders, internationally known poet, author of “The Family” and founder of legendary underground 1960s band The Fugs; Eric Mingus, spoken word artist/musician, known around the world for his work with artists such as Elvis Costello, Marianne Faithful, Beck and The Mingus Dynasty; Marie Harris, former N.H. poet laureate; and Portsmouth favorites Young Dawkins and Chris Elliot. Music by The Larry Simon Quintet and Special Guests. Tickets are $15 at the door, $13 in advance from Bullmoose and $12 in advance from The Press Room, 77 Daniel St., Portsmouth, 603-431-5186. For more information, visit www.poetryandjazz.com.

Donald Hall

In a voice as clear and simple as life on the Wilmot farm where he spent his younger summers and now makes his home, prize-winning poet Donald Hall speaks truth in verse with a fine point, his mind and pen honed by a lifetime of observation and participation. He’ll make a rare appearance at Water Street Bookstore in Exeter on Thursday, April 13, at 7 p.m. to read and sign his new book, “White Apples and the Taste of Stone: Poems, 1946-2006.”

N.H. Authors Series

As part of the University of New Hampshire Authors’ Series, Northwood’s Rebecca Rule interviewed renowned poet and University of New Hampshire professor Charles Simic for New Hampshire Public Television’s “Outlook.” The program, recorded before a live audience on April 2 at the University’s Dimond Library, is set around readings of several of his poems, including “Stone,” written early in the author’s career; “Shelly,” a nearly surreal collage of his impressions as a young man freshly arrived and alone in New York City, telescoped into one vividly remembered evening; and a warmly read version of “The White Room.” Simic, a Pulitzer Prize, McArthur and Guggenheim award winner, discusses what makes a poem a failure, what makes him say “ah ha,” and why reality is surreal enough. A prolific reader, Simic, 68, also discusses the influence of older poets, “those who came before,” on his work. “They set a standard,” he says. “I’ve read them thousands of times, and I’m still profoundly moved, impressed by their craft, and intimidated by them.” The program airs Tuesday, April 4 at 7:30 p.m., and will be available for streaming for five days at www.nhptv.org/outlook.

ongoing

Every month, you can listen in or step up to the mike yourself at a series of open mikes around the region.

Portsmouth Poetry Hoot: Sponsored by the Portsmouth Poet Laureate Program, Wednesday, April 5, 7 to 9 p.m., featuring Kristin Hultsman and Bob Crawford, followed by an open mike, at Cafe Espresso in the 800 Islington Street Plaza. Directions at www.pplp.org.

Dover Soul Poetry: You can take part in a competitive slam on the third Sunday of the month (next on Sunday, April 23, at 7:30 p.m.), or listen in as Revolution Booksellers presents two poetry nights, with featured readers followed by an open mike. On Sunday, April 16, the featured poets will be Evelyn Nathan and Maren Tirabassi. On Sunday, April 30, the readers will be Evelyn Nathan and George Jack. Both evenings run from 6 to 9 p.m. at 364 Central Ave in Dover (603-834-6965) and are free. 

Rochester Poetry Hoot: Sponsored by the Rochester Poet Laureate Program, the invited readers for Wednesday, April 26 are Dudley Laufman (yes, the contra dance fiddler and poet) and Rochester Poet Laureate Jennifer White. The show runs from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Busy Bean, 44 North Main St., 603-335-5444.

Stone Pigeon Poetry Readings: On the second Monday of the month, featuring John-Michael Albert and John Perrault on April 10 at 7 p.m., Breaking New Grounds, Market Square, Portsmouth, 603-436-9555.