National Poetry Month Events in Westchester

Poetry inspires and awakens. It encourages its readers to explore their own lives and experiences in relation to the world around them. April is National Poetry Month and arts organizations in Westchester are stepping up to celebrate with an array of poetry-themed events throughout the month. Read below for top poetry picks.

 

All month: Rye Poetry Path: The Stories Behind the Poems

Presented by Rye Poetry Path

Throughout National Poetry Month and into May, Rye Poetry Path will post daily stories about the poets, artists, sponsors, venues, partners and volunteers behind 60 of the 82 poems that are scattered throughout several locations in Rye: Knapp House, Rye Town Park, Rye Nature Center and Edith Read Wildlife Sanctuary. Readers can follow along on the group’s Instagram page, and read more about the Rye Poetry Path in this previous ArtsNews article.

 

April 7: Where Are You Tender?

Presented by Bethany Arts Community

This interactive poetry event in Ossining features three of Bethany Arts Community’s 2023 poets-in-residence. During their residency, participating poets develop new works while engaging with the local community. The evening features a Q&A session, an interactive activity and poetry readings from poet residents Tyler Mills, who is working on a new sequence of poems and refining the remaining poems of a full-length volume of poems in progress; Melissa Ferrer Civil, whose manuscript explores the impacts of white supremacy upon the black body and mind; and David Groff, who is writing a book about his experience as a survivor of the AIDS era.

 

April 14: Feminist Poetry Reading and Q&A

Presented by Pocantico Center & Hudson Valley Writers Center

Feminist poets Jenny Xie, Cynthia Manick and Jennifer Franklin will read from their new books and engage in a Q&A session to celebrate National Poetry Month. Xie’s The Rupture Tense focuses on the impact of the Cultural Revolution on her family. Manick’s No Sweet Without Brine celebrates Black womanhood. Franklin’s If Some God Shakes Your House imagines a fierce Antigone who speaks out against political atrocities. A book signing will follow the event and attendees can also visit the gallery’s Inspired Encounters exhibition. At the David Rockefeller Creative Arts Center.

 

April 15: Floodwaters Workshop for Kids

Presented by ArtsWestchester and Westchester Poet Laureate BK Fischer

This workshop led by Westchester Poet Laureate BK Fischer is part of an outdoor writing series that aims to facilitate conversations about climate, conservation and social injustice using poetry as the stimulus. Typically geared toward high school students, this is the only workshop for younger kids (aged 8-13). Each workshop takes place at a site of flooding and flood risk. The April 15 event will be at Dobbs Ferry Library and Dobbs Ferry Waterfront Park (1-3pm).  The final workshop, open to people of all ages, will take place at Croton Gorge Park on May 6 (2-4pm). To register, email floodwatersworkshops@gmail.com.

 

April 15: Drop-In Poetry Event

Presented by Blue Door Art Center

In this drop-in poetry event, Yonkers Poet Laureate Golda Solomon will be joined by trilingual poet Poonam Srivastava and local audiences for poem writing, poem drawing and poem readings. On the 2nd floor Children’s Library of Yonkers Public Library Riverfront Branch.

 

April 15: Poetry Spoken: an in -person workshop with Tony Howarth

Presented by Hudson Valley Writers Center

Led by poet Tony Howarth, this workshop will lead participants through the practice of presenting their poetry effectively. Through guide discussion, poets will explore voice, melody and subtext, as well a holding eye contact with the audience. The class is limited to six people and will feature the works of established poets as well as the participants’ own work.

 

April 25: Poetry Workshop for Teens

Presented by ArtsWestchester

ArtsWestchester’s Teen Tuesdays & Thursdays program will offer a poetry workshop led by teaching artist Cindy Beer-Fouhy for young adults aged 12-16 years old. Participants will sharpen their poetry skills with writing prompts inspired by Pablo Neruda’s “odes” to objects from everyday life. Registration is required by contacting rkuhn@artswestchester.org.

 

April 29: Drop-In Poetry Event

Presented by Blue Door Art Center

In this drop-in poetry event, Yonkers Poet Laureate Golda Solomon will be joined by writer, artist and performer Katori Walker and local audiences for poem writing, poem drawing and poem readings. On the 2nd floor Children’s Library of Yonkers Public Library Riverfront Branch.

 

April 29: 13th Annual Westchester Poetry Festival

Presented by Hudson Valley Writers Center and The Masters School

To celebrate National Poetry Month, the Masters School and Hudson Valley Writers Center have partnered again for this 13^th annual poetry festival. Faculty members Darren Wood and Miriam Emery will introduce keynote speaker Ilya Kaminsky. Additional readers include Tina Cane, Katie Farris, Farnaz Fatemi, Jennifer Franklin and Patricia Smith. The poets will read from their newest collections and sign copies of their books, which will be available for purchase at Pleasantville’s The Village Bookstore. At The Masters School in Dobbs Ferry.

 

April 30: Miniature Worlds in Verse

Presented by Katonah Museum of Art

This evening of poetry will feature three distinguished poets: Victoria Redel, author, poet, and professor of creative writing at Sarah Lawrence College; award-winning poet and activist Sophie Cabot Black; and Marie Howe, former State Poet for New York. The evening will feature poetry and conversation that delves into themes of artistic friendship, language, and memory inspired by the artworks on view in Miniature Worlds: Joseph Cornell, Ray Johnson, Yayoi Kusama. A reception will follow.