contest and reading, and a poetry writing workshop are
designed to encourage participation by poetry lovers of all
ages.
The festival kicks off at 11 am on Saturday, April 5, with
the popular Favorite Poem Project, a sharing of a favorite
poem by all who care to read, along with commentary on the
poem’s personal significance.
At 7 pm that evening Tom Blood, winner of the 2007 Oregon
Poetry Award in Poetry, will be joined by Portland poets Kate
Gray and Ger Killeen in the first Featured Poets Reading of
the Festival. Both the opening day’s events will be held at
Frank Lloyd Wright’s Gordon House next door to the Oregon
Garden.
On April 6 Crystal Williams will read her poems and Kim
Stafford will read his poems and share a few Oregon songs at 3
pm at the Mt. Angel Abbey Library.
All are invited to share their own poems at an open mike
reading on April 9, 7 pm, at Rolling Hills Bakery on First
Street in Silverton.
Portland poets Sage Cohen and Penelope Scambly Schott and
Corvallis poet Karen Holmberg will be featured at 7 pm on
April 11, reading their poems at the White Steeple Gallery,
314 Jersey Street in Silverton.
A Youth Poetry Contest, new this year, will culminate in a
reading by young poets at 11 am on April 12 at the Silver
Falls Public Library on Water Street in Silverton.
Vern Rutsala, distinguished poet and longtime faculty member
at Lewis and Clark College, will lead a poetry writing
workshop on April 12. (Advance registration is necessary; call
873-2480 for more info.) That evening Mr. Rutsala will be
joined by Eugene poet Maxine Scates in the Talking Poetry
event, a reading and moderated discussion of poetry writing at
7 pm at Stomp-N-Grounds Coffee House at Main and Water
Streets.
The finale of the 2008 festival will be the Feast of Poets, a
bounty of poetry and tasty treats at 2 pm on April 13 at
Silver Falls Vineyards, 4972 Cascade Hwy SE south of
Silverton.
