Missoula News

Poetry Reading Debuts at Festival of the Book

By Lisa Simon, 10-16-08

This year’s Montana Festival of the Book in Missoula debuts “The Favorite Poem Project,” a community-based reading developed by former poet laureate Robert Pinsky to demonstrate the civic presence of poetry.  The concept is simple: individuals from the local community share their favorite poem, taking a minute to say how it has been meaningful in their lives.

Pinsky’s theory is that if you take a cross-section of any community, you’ll find readers of poetry everywhere for reasons as diverse as people themselves.  What is chosen and why emerges as a poignant lesson in the humanities as well as an evening of literary fun. In this program, Montana joins civic leaders across the nation—governors, mayors, senators, former presidents--as well as everyday citizens in celebrating the abiding power of the written word.

The Missoula reading takes place in the Main Street Library at 2:30pm on October 25 and features the following:

Vic Charlo, poet & playwright
Beth Cogswell, Missoula Entrepreneur, creator of “Garden City Salsa”
Terry Conrad, MPR radio personality and innovator
Sherry Devlin, Missoulian reporter
John Engen, Mayor of Missoula
Amber Greymorning, finalist at the National Poetry Out Loud competition
Sheryl Noethe, Director, Writers Collaborative, author of “Poetry Everywhere.”
Greg Pape, Montana poet laureate and poet
Rick Wishcamper, Real Estate developer

For more info on the National poetry project, see www.favoritepoem.org

If you would like to host your own favorite poem project for your community event, contact Lisa Simon

Watch poetry readings by Mayor John Engen, Amber Greymorning, Mark Sherouse and Finn Cogswell.

Like this story? Get more! Sign up for our free newsletters.