Poetry Corners

Poetry is not the books in the library. Poetry is the encounter of the reader with the book, the discovery of the book.
– Jorge Luis Borges

It could be said that poetry is best felt with the sun on the skin, or the wind on the cheek, or discovered in the wild. Indeed, this experience of poetry will be available to Bainbridge Island this April in celebration of National Poetry Month.

Poetry Corners, a local poetry movement first established by an enthusiastic group of local creatives in 1999, continues its long-running tradition of posting local poems throughout the windows of downtown Bainbridge Island.

Beginning in April, Poetry Corners will present its annual poetry exhibition featuring the jury-selected poetry of local poets.

The public poetry exhibit will be displayed from April 1st through April 30th in celebration of National Poetry Month, which was created by the American Academy of Poets. “The Academy of American Poets established National Poetry Month in 1996. Along the way we enlisted a variety of government agencies and officials, educational leaders, publishers, sponsors, poets, and arts organizations to help. National Poetry Month is a registered trademark of the Academy of American Poets.

“The goals of National Poetry Month are to:
– highlight the extraordinary legacy and ongoing achievement of American poets
– encourage the reading of poems
– assist teachers in bringing poetry into their classrooms
– increase the attention paid to poetry by national and local media
– encourage increased publication and distribution of poetry books, and
– encourage support for poets and poetry.

Why was April chosen for National Poetry Month?
In coordination with poets, booksellers, librarians, and teachers, we chose a month when poetry could be celebrated with the highest level of participation.” (https://poets.org/national-poetry-month/faq)

Poetry Corners is being published by local publisher, Bainbridge Island Press, founded by Tamarah Rockwood who has long enjoyed editing and printing indie-poetry journals. “I have always known that more people write poetry than they let on,” Rockwood noted. “It is such a joy finding these poets and reading their work, and immortalizing their craft in a journal. This is the purpose of art, is to bring the artists together.”

There will be a live reading on TBD at 6 p.m. at the Bainbridge Island Library. Chapbooks will be available to buy at Eagle Harbor Bookstore and other participating bookstores.

Poems will be displayed in Winslow business windows.

A map of the poems’ locations can be found here.

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Contact
Bainbridge Island press
Tamarah Rockwood
Poetry Corners Editor

poetrycorners2022@gmail.com