In celebration of National Poetry Month, for the second year, poet laureate Heather Frankland has curated the Poetry Long Weekend, working with other poets, libraries, and businesses to co-organize the event. The Poetry Long Weekend is a series of interconnected poetry events coordinated to be on the same weekend in order to showcase our vibrant poetry community. The Poetry Long Weekend will run from April 9th to April 12th.
On April 9th, the first event will be at the Western New Mexico University's Miller Library from 11:00-1:00 PM. The event will feature poetry readings and presentations by Miller Library Director, Samantha Johnson, WNMU Writer in Residence JJ Amaworo Wilson, Dr. Jack Crocker, WNMU students, Leonore Hildebrandt, Dr. Gregory Robinson Guerra, and Professor Heather Frankland. The event is supported by WNMU Humanities Department, WNMU Miller Library, WNMU College of Arts and Sciences, Southwest Word Fiesta, and SWAG Books & More.
The second event on April 9th, will be at Bayard Public Library from 2:30 to 5:00 PM. Mimbres poets, Cheryl Howard and Cindy McCain will be leading a poetry workshop, "Pantoums, Zines, Tankas, and Smash Books," in which participants will be discovering new ways to write and present poetry.
On April 10th, there will be a poetry reading at the Public Library of Silver City from 3:30 to 5:00 PM. Four Southern New Mexico poets will be reading from Cacti Fur Collective, a poetry split (a type of anthology) published by Grandma Moses Press. Each of the four poets bring a unique perspective to the desert landscape and the human experience: Heather Frankland, Susan Melinda Morée, Beate Sigriddaughter, and Elise Stuart. As this is a new publication launch, attendees will have the first opportunity to purchase a brand-new book containing fresh work from all four poets. This Grandma Moses Press release serves as a definitive look at the Collective's recent output and will be available for signing following the reading.
On April 11th, there will be two events. The first is a poetry workshop, "The True Haiku," led by local poet, Kit West, from 9:00-10:30 at Desert Bouquet Studio at 108 Yankie Street. In this workshop, form will be explored. Kit explains, "We will find ways to bring all our skills to bear on the brief and beautiful haiku. We will bring skills we developed to write poetry in our own tradition to this utterly different set of poetics that we will make our own while respecting its history. We will use, not just image, but also simile and metaphor and the music of the English poem. We will use assonance and consonance and alliteration. We can, if we want, use meter. We will not try to be Japanese. We will become English language poets pouring ourselves into a small, exquisite porcelain cup from which we might even drink sake.
We will also expand this exploration to include the linked haiku. This we will do by way of an ancient game of writing the group haiku. Very fun! Requirements? Paper, pencil and curiosity."
The second event on April 11th is at the Tranquilbuzz Coffee House from 12 to 2 PM will be their monthly Word Café. The one for this day is unique in that it is for local youth poets. The group and event will be lead by local poet, Shelly Barnett. If youth poets would like to sign up early for their spot, they are welcome to reach out to Shelly at
April 12th marks the last event, postcard poetry, hosted by Javalina Coffee House from 10:00 to 1PM. Poets Allison Waterman and Roberta Brown will lead the experience. Stop by Javalina for a coffee and a chance to write a postcard poem.
All events themselves are free. Come to one or all. Come and celebrate poetry and our poetry community.
For more information contact the poet laureate at
