The Favorite Poem Project: Finn Phillips

By Anne Medley, 10-21-08

The 2008 Montana Festival of the Book takes place Oct. 23-25 in Missoula, featuring some of the finest writers of the West.

This year’s Festival includes a new event called “The Favorite Poem Project,” a community-based reading originally 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.

In this video, Finn Phillips, 8, reads his favorite haikus.

The Missoula Favorite Poem reading takes place Saturday, Oct 25th at 2:30 in the Main Street Library and will include Mayor John Engen and Montana poet laureate Greg Pape.

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