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Millbrook’s National Poetry Month celebration is townwide

Millbrook’s National Poetry Month celebration is townwide
Poem panel in the window at Babette’s Kitchen features just one of many poems around the village. They can be read during April, which is National Poetry Month. These placards and many poetry-inspired events are sponsored by the Millbrook Arts Group. 
Photo by Judith O’Hara Balfe

MILLBROOK —  Millbrook Arts Group (MAG) is helping the Village of Millbrook celebrate the 27th anniversary of National Poetry Month during the month of April with its “poetryline” event that features several well-known poets, including Cynthia Cruz, the 2023 recipient of the National Book Critics Circle Award for Poetry.

Also participating is Ryan Murphy, director of nonprofit publisher Four Way Books in New York City as well as a local resident and one of the featured poets.

MAG has once again partnered with Millbrook Library and local schools to present the Tribute Garden Poetry Walk, which will feature more than 30 poems written by local children and will include illustrations.

MAG’s poetryline features a public art project with contemporary poems that will be seen on more than 50 window panels throughout the village, in restaurants and store fronts and even on the edge of town for people to see, read and enjoy. The poets will be shown via the sponsorship of Four Way Books. Other participating writers include Carlie Hoffman, Eugenia Leigh, Jen Levitt, Nathan McClain, Yesenia Montilla, James Fujinami Moore, Victoria Redel, Glenis Redmond, Rob Schlegel and Soren Stockman.

The Millbrook Library will host “Alden Place Poems” during the month of April, featuring more than 60 poems by Alden Place’s third graders.

On Saturday, April 8, there will be a one-hour haiku workshop for kids, ages 3-13, at Merritt Bookstore at 10:30 a.m. A similar workshop for adults will be held on Saturday, April 15, at 2:30 p.m.

On Wednesday, April 12, open mic night at the Millbrook Library invites participants to bring any writing or even a guitar and song to read at 6 p.m. Sign-up is on the library website at millbrooklibrary.org or by calling 845-677-3611.

On Saturday, April 22, the library will host the Hudson Valley Writers Workshop at 1 p.m. Everyone is welcome and membership is free.

Independent Bookstore Day is on Saturday, April 29, and Merritt Books will celebrate with an open mic poetry kick-off at 11 a.m, and kids and adults can read their haikus and other poems throughout the day.

The Millbrook Arts Group is a nonprofit organization that has been presenting, encouraging, supporting and coordinating cultural, educational, and social activities in the Village of Millbrook and the Town of Washington for more than 30 years.

Judith O'Hara Balfe

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