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Best Poetry Events In Baltimore

The art of poetry requires much more emotion and talent than what "roses are red, violets are blue" would lead one to believe. This does not mean that creating poems is for a select few, however, considering the varied history of poets. A certain respect should be given to those who would wear their heart on their sleeve when writing or performing poetry. Celebrate National Poetry Month by embracing the words of fellow Baltimoreans and perhaps sharing some of your own.

Enoch Pratt Free Library
(credit: prattlibrary.org)

Poems By Heart
Enoch Pratt Library
Central Branch – Poe Room
400 Cathedral Street
Baltimore, Md. 21201
(410) 396-5430
www.prattlibrary.org

Date: April 3 – 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Kicking off National Poetry Month, the Enoch Pratt Library invites poets and poetry aficionados of all ages to the central branch to recite your favorite poems. You can select any poem your heart desires, or even write one of your own. There is no need to memorize, though it will certainly impress the audience, so feel free to bring along a written copy. Plenty of poetry loving librarians will be on hand to help as you spend a fun evening connecting with others, listening to poems and learning about all types of poetry.

Related: Best Literary Landmarks In Baltimore

Art of Conversation
credit:Torchlight Entertainment

The Art Of Conversation
Peace & A Cup of Joe
713 W. Pratt Street
Baltimore, Md. 21201
(443) 869-4515
www.poetry247.com/aoc

Price: $10 audience, $7 performers
Date: April 8 – 8 p.m. to 11 p.m.

Looking from the outside, one would hardly guess that this cozy cafe hosts what it calls "the most interactive poetry event" in the area. Hosted by E The Poet Emcee, The Art of Conversation is held the second Monday of each month and  is a live poetry event in which the audience can ask questions of the poets and comment on the performance. There is no censorship, so feel free to express yourself in an open and inclusive environment. Participate by signing up at 7 p.m. for showtime at 8 p.m. Peace & A Cup of Joe, which offers free wireless Internet, is also perfect for students at the nearby University of Maryland, who receive discounts.

Poetry Books
(credit: Sherri Weaver)

Poetry Out Loud
Baltimore County Public Library – White Marsh Branch
8133 Sandpiper Circle
White Marsh, Md. 21236
(410) 887-5097
bcplonline.org

Date: April 23 – 7 p.m.

Offering a suburban location to recite poetry, the Baltimore County Public Library in White Marsh welcomes you to celebrate National Poetry Month. This event is geared toward adults who have a passion for the written word. Whether you write in rhymes, couplets, quatrains, iambic pentameters or your own personal method, bring your best poems this evening to be shared with other poetry enthusiasts. If you're not quite ready to share your own work, you may also read from the works of your favorite poet, including Maya Angelou, Walt Whitman, Emily Dickinson and Baltimore's own Edgar Allan Poe.

Related: Best Books About Baltimore

music notes

Concert Of Greek And Persian Poetry
Enoch Pratt Library
Central Branch - Poe Room
400 Cathedral Street
Baltimore, Md. 21201
(410) 396-5430
www.prattlibrary.org

Date: April 24 – 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Travel back to the time of 7-4 B.C., where Greek and Persian poetry is a popular form of art as well as a means of education. Now imagine listening to the poems with the backdrop of American folk music. This is exactly what the Old Songs singing group will provide for National Poetry Month. Since 2002, Liz Downing, Mark Jickling and Chris Mason have carefully translated the poetry of Alcman, Archilochus, Sappho and many others and set it to the tune of folk music. Listen to the classics modernized with banjo, fiddle, mandolin and guitar. Liz also sings poems by medieval-Persian poet, Rumi. And if you want to hear more, Old Songs has their own CDs.

Pam Smith graduated from Penn State with a B.A. in English and a passion for writing. Her adaptive nature led her to work in the scientific, energy supply, and business industries while writing on a multitude of topics for various online media. Pam currently resides in Baltimore County. Her work can be found at Examiner.com.

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