Monday Muse: Poetry Events in 2016

It is not too early to mark your calendars for poetry readings, poetry slams, and poetry festivals in the coming New Year. Below are a dozen selections from around the country. Explore the links to discover work of poets you might not know, and check FaceBook and Web pages for details as they become available.

✭ Free Library of Philadelphia — "Monday Poets Reading Series", Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The New Year kicks off January 4 with readings by Pew Fellow and Poet Laureate of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, Yolanda Wisher and poet, workshop leader, and educator Trapeta B. Mayson. On February 1, poets M. Nzadi Keita and Lamont B. Steptoe headline. Poets Beth Feldman Brandt and A.V. Christie appear March 7. On April 4, Honoch Guy Kaner and Adebe DeRango-Adem read. The series spotlights regional and local talent.

Free Library of Philadelphia on FaceBook

✭ Palm Beach Poetry Festival — "2016 Palm Beach Poetry Festival", January 18 - 23, Delray Beach, Florida. Now in its 12th year, the festival of performances, readings, interviews, craft talks, and workshops involves such well-known poets as Carl Dennis, Denise Duhamel, Tom Sleigh, Mary Szybist, and Kevin Young. Robert Hass is the festival's special guest. Festival events are open to the public.

Palm Beach Poetry Festival on FaceBook

✭ The Poetry Project — "42nd Annual New Year's Day Marathon Benefit Reading", New York City, January 1. The New Year's Day event, which raises funds to pay writers for their work, involves a huge cast of performers. Some of those in the lineup for 2016 are Anselm Berrigan, CAConrad, Aracelis Girmay, Philip Glass, Amy King, and Anne Waldman. Other readings take place throughout the month of January and thereafter.

The Poetry Project on FaceBook

✭ Michener Center for Writers, University of Texas — The Michener Center's "Reading Series" includes poet and novelist Laura Kasischke on February 11, Avaya Auditorium, Austin, Texas, 7:30 p.m.

Michener Center for Writers Alums on FaceBook

✭ Seattle Arts & Lectures — SAL "Poetry Series", "Joshua Roman and Tracy K. Smith", February 25. On April 19, the series is presenting "Pablo Neruda's Lost Poems: A Book Launch Featuring Forrest Gander and Friends". Both events are in McCaw Hall's Nesholm Family Lecture Hall. Copper Canyon Press is the co-presenter of the April event.

Tracy K. Smith

Forrest Gander

Seattle Arts & Lectures on FaceBook

✭ Poetry Slam — "2016 Women of the World Poetry Slam", Brooklyn, New York, March 9 - 12. This is a tournament in which individual poets perform four poems during preliminaries; the top poets then go to the finals to compete for "2016 Women of the World Champion".

WOWPS on FaceBook

✭ Academy of American Poets — 2016 National Poetry Month (20th Anniversary), April. The entire month of April is given over to the "largest literary celebration in the world", which includes, in addition to poets, a wide range of schools, publishers, libraries, and booksellers. It takes place online and off.

Academy of American Poets on FaceBook

✭ Science Fiction Poetry Association —"OdysseyCon 2016", April 8 - 10, Madison, Wisconsin. The poetry programming at this convention includes a prose poem contest, a poetry slam, literary panels, and an Open Mic.

Science Fiction Poetry Association on FaceBook

✭ Split This Rock — "Split This Rock Poetry Festival: Poems of Provocation & Witness", April 14 - 17, Washington, D.C. Juan Felipe Herrera, 21st U.S. Poet Laureate, will kick off four-days of readings, workshops, discussions, and more. The line-up includes, among others, Reginald Dwayne Betts, Nikky Finney, Ross Gay, Aracelis Girmay, Rigoberto Gonzalez, and Ocean Vuong.

Split This Rock on FaceBook

✭ Kalamazoo Poetry Festival — "2016 Kalamazoo Poetry Festival", Kalamazoo, Michigan, April 15 - 16. In addition to readings, workshops, and such events as Open Mic, the festival presents Natalie Diaz and Jamaal May, who will be giving craft talks and readings.

Kalamazoo Poetry Festival on FaceBook

✭ Skagit River Poetry — "9th Biennial Skagit River Poetry Festival", La Conner, Washington, May 19 - 22. Among the poets in the coming year's lineup are Natalie Diaz, Tarfia Faizullah, Jamaal May, Aimee Nezhukumatathil, Naomi Shihab Nye, and Martha Silano.

Skagit River Poetry Festival on FaceBook

✭ Dodge Poetry — "2016 Dodge Poetry Festival", Newark, New Jersey, October 20 - 23. This festival claims the title of "largest poetry event in North America". Held in Newark's downtown Arts District, the festival includes themed readings, collaborations among poets and musicians, craft talks, small-group conversations about poetry, and much more.

Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation on FaceBook