Reminder: Read your Favorite Poem at the Franklin Library, Saturday, April 29 from 12 to 3 PM

April is almost but not quite complete so there is time for the Favorite Poem Reading at the Franklin Library, Saturday, April 29 from 12 to 3 PM.

Come to the Library to read your favorite poem, or listen to others read their favorite poem. 

Favorite Poem Project™  with Steve Sherlock  and Camille Napier Bernstein

Choose a favorite published poem that you have long treasured or recently discovered. Read it for a recording celebrating National Poetry Month for later inclusion on Steve’s podcast.

Note: Poems may not be ones you or family members or friends have written.  

Limit: Five minutes reading time.

Use the form here to sign up to read your favorite poem ->   https://forms.gle/yyrpREyk4BBFXGpr8 

Download and share the flyer with your friends & neighbors

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1BCI2zFmVq07pmiBHU-8wnkPtuvhGxxkQ/view?usp=share_link

From the archives: In October 2017, there was a Favorite Poem Reading at the Senior Center. The listing of poems and readers a few days in advance of that event (which I miss) can be found ->   https://www.franklinmatters.org/2017/10/updated-readers-for-favorite-poem.html

There were 2 events scheduled, only 1 remains - Saturday, April 29, from noon to 3 PM

Save The Date! Evening of Inspired Leaders Reading their Favorite Poem - Nov 14 (hybrid fund raiser)

Mass Poetry warmly invites you to join us at the eighth annual Evening of Inspired Leaders an in-person and live streamed event that brings together exceptional leaders from diverse fields to each read their favorite poem and reflect on its connection to their life and work. 

The event will take place on Monday, November 14th from 7:30 - 9 PM at Calderwood Pavilion at the BCA, 527 Tremont Street, Boston, MA 02116. You can register, become a sponsor, RSVP, and more here, as well as view the attached save the date here with full details. 

Confirmed speakers for this year's event include:

• Lee Pelton | President & CEO, The Boston Foundation
• Michael Bobbitt | Executive Director, Mass Cultural Council
• Dr. Kimberly Frazier-Booth | Instructor, Edward M. Kennedy Academy for Health Careers
• Dr. Jennifer Childs-Roshak | CEO, Planned Parenthood League of Massachusetts
• Bill McKibben | Author, Educator, Activist, Founder of the Third Act; The New Yorker
• emcee Rupa Shenoy, WBUR reporter  

• Josie Colon | Teen Council Member, Mass Poetry.

The night will be full of inspiring words, surrounded by our community as we celebrate poetry, uplift organizations in Massachusetts and elsewhere, as well as fundraise for our program. 

We appreciate your support and hope to see you there. 

Sincerely, 

Daniel Johnson

Executive Director/Tel: 617-600-6372

Save The Date! Evening of Inspired Leaders Reading their Favorite Poem - Nov 14 (hybrid fund raiser

"May this be the day We come together"

A poem? In Franklin Matters? Why? 

Sometimes the poet has the words to say what needs to be said. In this case, the new work by Amanda Gorman fits the need so very well.  

‘New Day's Lyric’ by Amanda Gorman

May this be the day

We come together.

Mourning, we come to mend, 

Withered, we come to weather,

Torn, we come to tend,

Battered, we come to better. 

Tethered by this year of yearning,

We are learning

That though we weren't ready for this, 

We have been readied by it.

Steadily we vow that no matter

How we are weighed down,

We must always pave a way forward.

This hope is our door, our portal.

Even if we never get back to normal, 

Someday we can venture beyond it,

To leave the known and take the first steps. 

So let us not return to what was normal, 

But reach toward what is next.

What was cursed, we will cure.

What was plagued, we will prove pure.

Where we tend to argue, we will try to agree,

Those fortunes we forswore, now the future we foresee, 

Where we weren't aware, we're now awake;

Those moments we missed

Are now these moments we make,

The moments we meet,

And our hearts, once all together beaten,

Now all together beat.

Come, look up with kindness yet,

For even solace can be sourced from sorrow. 

We remember, not just for the sake of yesterday, 

But to take on tomorrow.

We heed this old spirit,

In a new day's lyric,

In our hearts, we hear it:

For auld lang syne, my dear, 

For auld lang syne.

Be bold, sang Time this year, 

Be bold, sang Time,

For when you honor yesterday, 

Tomorrow ye will find.

Know what we've fought

Need not be forgot nor for none.

It defines us, binds us as one, 

Come over, join this day just begun. 

For wherever we come together, 

We will forever overcome.

 

Shared from The Rolling Stone

https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-news/amanda-gorman-new-poem-new-days-lyric-1276981/

and USA Today

https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/books/2021/12/29/amanda-gorman-poem-new-days-lyric-full-text-2021-2022/9045480002/

Listen to Amanda read this poem in her Instagram video ->

https://www.instagram.com/tv/CYEpCgxBTAf/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading

Listen to Amanda read this poem in her Instagram video