30 days of poetry
April is National Poetry Month, and again this year, Santa
Barbara offers a month‑long festival to celebrate. The following
are the readings, workshops, and celebrations that shall entertain
our literary minds for the next few weeks.
Poetry of Celebration The month starts with a
rich, only‑occasionally‑foolish April Fools Day evening in the S.B.
Poetry Series, featuring 10 celebrated S.B. poets. Sat., Apr. 1,
7pm; Contemporary Arts Forum, Paseo Nuevo; 966‑1423.
Langston Hughes Day This annual day’s theme is
My Soul Has Grown Deep Like the Rivers. It actually goes for two
days and features readings and reflection. Tue., Apr. 3, 10am‑4pm;
Eastside Library, 962‑3202; and Wed., Apr. 4, noon; the Braille
Institute, 682‑4413.
Reds Hot Gather ’round for the Reds Hot open
mike poetry affair in the Funk Zone. Thu., Apr. 6, 7pm; Reds Coffee
House; 966‑5906.
Spiritual Writing Workshop Led by me, Barry
Spacks, this workshop will focus on the interface between poetry
writing and dharma teachings. Participants will write poems even if
they don’t normally imagine themselves as poets. Sat., Apr. 8,
10am; Vairotsana Foundation, 1524 Anacapa; 899‑8177; register at
vairotsana@verizon.net.
WS Merwin As a special glory event, the
much‑honored Hawaii‑based poet WS Merwin will give a reading. Thu.,
Apr. 13, 8pm; UCSB’s Campbell Hall; 893‑3535.
Comic Poems for Tax Day Humor for tax‑day
relief. Sat., Apr. 15, 4 pm; The Coffee Cat; 563‑1247.
FAVES S.B.’s Favorite Poems (by others),
provides its every third Monday open‑mike event. Mon., Apr. 17,
5:15pm; Blue Agave; 899‑4694.
David Oliveira The poet will read his works
inspired by both Santa Barbara and Cambodia. Thu., Apr. 20, 4pm;
UCSB’s MultiCultural Center Theater; 893‑8411.
Shakespeare’s Birthday There’s a big bash for
Shakespeare’s birthday, with poets reading work inspired by
Shakespeare’s writings or by the current SBMA installation From
Renaissance to Rococo, an exhibition of masterwork paintings on
loan from the Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art. Sun., Apr. 23, 1pm;
S.B. Museum of Art; 884‑6432.
Marathon Reading The poets of April poetry
month unleash their magic. Thu., Apr. 27, 7pm; Contemporary Arts
Forum, Paseo Nuevo; 966‑1423.
