I guess it's time for this one to scroll away . . .

I loved that website and went back to visit three or four times and plan to spend more time wandering around. Some brought tears to my eyes.

I didn't post on the thread because I didn't want it to scroll away. :-)

"Stopping by woods on a snowy evening" was always one of my favourite poems when I was a child. I vividly recall my Dad reading it to me...(I think I was the only one that would listen, bless his heart) No-one else in the family was as interested as me!

Karen UK

Thanks, Karen and Rhizo! Sorry I scrolled it....

Saturday is a city wide Poetry Day in Philadelphia - and the weather should be perfect. There are locations spread out all over the city and all you need to do is sign up and recite.

You can even register your own location - and they're quite varied - from the typical libraries, coffee shops, and parks to a pizza shop, street corner and a Mall. The one I happened to see last year was at the gazebo at the Water Works at Fairmount Park. There's even one in Port Richmond that's called Poets and Weiners and it's held in a back yard and they're roasting hot dogs to go along with the poetry.

I'll have to check the web site tomorrow to see how things went - one of the events is Flash Mob Poetry in West Philly. In Germantown you can read a poem and then hang it on their poetry clothesline.

Poetry is alive and well in the city.

It reminds me of June 16 - Bloomsday. This year will be the 20th reading of Ulysses on the steps of the Rosenbach Library. The Rosenbach has the only copy of Ulysses written in James Joyce's own hand and it's become such a huge celebration that this year the festivities last all week. Some of the events are quite scholarly in nature but there's also Joyce quizzes at the Irish pubs.

Susan - I think you'd really enjoy some of these happenings. There are times I think about moving back into the city - so much is happening there.

Here is a link that might be useful: Philly Poetry Day

This post was edited by maire_cate on Fri, Apr 11, 14 at 21:04

I would definitely enjoy it, Maire. As I read your post I was thinking Scranton could adopt some of these ideas, on a smaller scale. Scranton/Wilkes-Barre has an active poetry culture. I've been a member of a Scranton poetry and writing group for almost 30 years.

Susan, I'm a poetry lover, as was my DH. I don't have time now to spend there, although I did read Stopping by Woods; who could not? I bookmarked the site. Thanks for posting it.

Sue

Pres. William "Bill" Clinton did a credible reading of the "Concord Hymn". That surprised me. I did not know that he was a poetry fan.

Hillary did one too. I guess an affection for poetry isn't something we're likely to know about most of the famous.

Glad you enjoyed it, Sue!

The childrens' readings are special, too.

My grandmother (Dad's mother) taught elocution. I have some of her books, well marked and much used. Of course, the readings are all classic poetry, including epics. She died when I was too young to be tutored by her, something I would have loved. Dad's love of poetry rubbed off on me.

This post was edited by rhizo_1 on Sat, Apr 12, 14 at 13:09

Well there you go Susan! Your poetry group could sponsor a Pop-Up Poetry Day in Scranton. You already have a core group so that's a start. You could also do one with your musician friends - either combined with the Poetry readings or on their own.