Door County Poet Laureate Sharon Auberle
April is National Poetry Month and Write On offers two special events to celebrate poetry from around the world and to meet others who appreciate poetry. A poetry potluck focused on Japan is scheduled for Friday, April 20 and a rescheduled International Mother Language Day reading is scheduled for Monday, April 30. Both events are free and open to the public.
In partnership with Door County Poet Laureate Sharon Auberle, a Poetry Potluck is planned for Friday, April 20, 6 pm, at the Gibraltar Fire Hall on County Road F in Fish Creek. This is the second in a series of four internationally themed potlucks and will focus on the poetry and food of Japan. The program is free and families are encouraged to participate. While the program is free, people are asked to call 920-868-1457 if they plan to attend so that the space may be set up accordingly. Participants should bring a Japanese-inspired dish to share and a poem either about Japan or by a Japanese poet to read.
“Some of my favorite things are good food, great conversation, and poetry. I’m probably not alone in this, so hope to see many of you like-minded friends at the fire hall for a warm and tasty evening–and who knows, we might even be inspired to write some haiku on the spot,” says Auberle, who was appointed Door County’s Poet Laureate in March 2017 and will serve in the role through March 2019.
Part of the role of Poet Laureate is to inspire an appreciation for poetry throughout the community. Auberle and Write On designed the poetry potlucks to encourage everyone to discover new poets and poems and an appreciation of other cultures. “We are excited to work with Sharon and develop this series of quarterly potlucks,” said Jerod Santek, Director of Write On. “This is a great way for families and friends to come together, to meet new people, and appreciate poetry in a new way.”
Poetry Potlucks will move around the county, providing everyone with an opportunity to take part. The other scheduled potlucks are Friday, July 20, a French –themed poetry potluck picnic at Write On’s property in Juddville, and Friday, October 19with a focus on India. All potlucks weill begin at 6 pm. The locations for the April and November potlucks will be announced later this year.
Write On’s annual International Mother Language Day reading scheduled in February was cancelled due to an ice storm. Write On has rescheduled the reading to conclude National Poetry Month with an international flare. The reading will take place Monday, April 30, 7 pm, at the Miller Art Museum, 107 S. Fourth Avenue, Sturgeon Bay. The event is free and families are encouraged to attend.
Speakers of languages other than English are sought to take part. Native speakers are preferred, but English speakers who are fluent in other languages are also welcome to take part. Participants are asked to read a poem by a favorite writer of their native language, a poem from childhood, or a poem of their own creation. All ages are welcome to take part. Readers do not have to read an English translation nor provide one for the audience.
“This is not only an opportunity to celebrate the many world languages that are spoken here in Door County,” said Write On Executive Director Jerod Santek, “is is an opportunity for those who might be intimidated by poetry to sit and listen and learn to appreciate the rhythm and music. When you don’t understand the language, you free yourself from trying to grasp the poem’s meaning and more fully appreciate the cadence and musicality that poetry brings to our lives.”
Poetry Potluck and International Poetry Reading Commemorate National Poetry Month
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