You can listen to the poetry & conversation from the Favorite Poem Reading 04//18/26 (audio)

FM #1741 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1741 in the series. 

This session shares the Favorite Poem Reading facilitated by Steve Sherlock at the Franklin Public Library on Saturday, April 18, 2026. April is National Poetry Month and this ‘poetry and conversation” was a good way to celebrate poetry.

The consensus of the group was to do this more frequently rather than wait until next April rolls around. Stay tuned. The next one may be in August or September.

The list of the readers and poems or poets read is found in the show notes

The recording runs about 50 minutes, so let’s listen in.

Audio link - https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1741-favorite-poem-reading-04-18-26/

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Marc Cohen read one by Robert Frost “To Earthward”

To Earthward by Robert Frost - Poems | Academy of American Poets https://share.google/vLq8c8OjHGob31lmx

 

Stephen Karunakaran read a few short selections from “THE KURAL: Tiruvalluvar’s Tirukkural” in Tamil and English  https://thomaspruiksma.com/books/tiruvalluvars-tirukkural/ 

Faith Flaherty talked about and read a couple of versions of  “How can I keep from singing”

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/How_Can_I_Keep_from_Singing%3F 

Ken Ojukwu read a version of “The Man in the Glass”

https://allpoetry.com/The-Man-in-the-Glass 

Steve Sherlock read (and provided a sample taste of watermelon pickle)

“Reflections on a gift of watermelon pickle received from a friend called Felicity”

https://oklahoma.agclassroom.org/resources/food/songs/reflections/ 

Jayson Joyce read Wendell Berry’s “The Peace of Wild Things”

https://onbeing.org/poetry/the-peace-of-wild-things/ 

Faith also read Shel Silverstein “I can not go to school today”

https://poets.org/poem/sick

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We are now producing this in collaboration with Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm) or 102.9 on the Franklin area radio dial. 

This podcast is my public service effort for Franklin but we can't do it alone. We can always use your help.

How can you help?

• If you can use the information that you find here, please tell your friends and neighbors

• If you don't like something here, please let me know

• And if you have interest in reporting on meetings or events, please reach. We’ll share and show you what and how we do what we do

Through this feedback loop we can continue to make improvements. I thank you for listening.

For additional information, please visit Franklinmatters.org/  or www.franklin.news 

If you have questions or comments you can reach me directly at shersteve @ gmail dot com

The music for the intro and exit was provided by Michael Clark and the group "East of Shirley". The piece is titled "Ernesto, manana"  c. Michael Clark & Tintype Tunes, 2008 and used with their permission.

I hope you enjoy!

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You can also subscribe and listen to Franklin Matters audio on iTunes or your favorite podcast app; search in "podcasts" for "Franklin Matters"

Franklin Public Radio - wfpr.fm schedule for Friday, May 1, 2026

Yes, Franklin has it's own radio station -> wfpr.fm. Franklin Public Radio has a brand new schedule for the locally produced shows that fill our air waves. 

It is available anywhere, anytime at wfpr.fm or in the local Franklin, MA area at 102.9 on the FM dial.

Tune in to listen to the following:

Franklin Public Radio - wfpr.fm schedule for Friday

8:00 AM, 1:00 PM, and 6:00 PM - Franklin Matters Radio – Steve Sherlock covering Franklin, its local government, services, and events 

• This hour shared Talking about "A Dance with the Cosmos" -  Marc D Cohen  ->  https://www.franklinmatters.org/2026/04/talking-about-dance-with-cosmos-by-marc.html

9:00 AM, 2:00 PM, and 7:00 PM

10:00 AM, 3:00 PM, and 8:00 PM - Talkin’ the Blues – Jim Derick & Nick Remissong. 2 hours of awesome blues music, info, interviews  Showcasing the "Blues" as a basis for and influence of Country, Jazz and Rock and Roll, here and worldwide.

11:00 AM, 4:00 PM, and 9:00 PM - “The Vibe” show plays music for everyone searching for some enjoyment, some dance, a happy or thinking mood, and most importantly, having fun.  Tune in to wfpr.fm and listen to “DJ Vibe” spin music across many genres and join this new vibing experience

Get this week's program guide for Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm) online  http://franklin.tv/programguide.pdf 

Talking about "A Dance with The Cosmos" by Marc D Cohen - 04/24/26 (video & audio)

FM #1731 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1731 in the series. 

This episode shared my conversation with Marc D Cohen, author of “A Dance with the Cosmos.” Marc’s second book of poetry was recently published. We had our conversation virtually via Zoom on Friday, April 24, 2026. 

Our conversation covered

• Marc’s Franklin story

• His first poem

• Poetry to make sense of the world

The conversation runs about 52 minutes, let’s listen

Video link - https://youtu.be/_j5FbVNj8Iw

Audio link - https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1731-a-dance-with-the-cosmos-04-24-26/

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Marc’s Facebook page to follow for readings and events  Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61586969831319 

The publishers book page https://www.archwaypublishing.com/en/bookstore/bookdetails/870852-a-dance-with-the-cosmos 

You should be able to find the book where books are sold

--------------

We are now producing this in collaboration with Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm) or 102.9 on the Franklin area radio dial.  

This podcast is my public service effort for Franklin but we can't do it alone. We can always use your help.

How can you help?

• If you can use the information that you find here, please tell your friends and neighbors

• If you don't like something here, please let me know

• And if you have interest in reporting on meetings or events, please reach out. We’ll share and show you what and how we do what we do

Through this feedback loop we can continue to make improvements. I thank you for listening.

For additional information, please visit Franklinmatters.org/ or www.franklin.news/

If you have questions or comments you can reach me directly at shersteve @ gmail dot com

The music for the intro and exit was provided by Michael Clark and the group "East of Shirley". The piece is titled "Ernesto, manana"  c. Michael Clark & Tintype Tunes, 2008 and used with their permission.

I hope you enjoy!

------------------

You can also subscribe and listen to Franklin Matters audio on iTunes or your favorite podcast app; search in "podcasts" for "Franklin Matters"

Poetry among the key Library events this week April 16 - April 18

Check out some of the big events we have planned at the Franklin Public Library!

Poem Explosion April 16 1pm

Music at the Blissful Concert April 18 10:30am

Diamond Art De-Stress April 18 1pm (registration required!)

Book Sale Weekend! 

Friday, April 17 1pm - 4pm, 

Saturday, April 18 9am to noon, Bag sale 1-4pm

Details for #libraryprograms available on the website calendar: https://www.franklinma.gov/942/Calendar-of-Events 

And 

Favorite Poem Reading 

Saturday, April 18 - 1:30 PM 

Sign up list (requested, not required)

https://forms.gle/YvfTLzxTYYtQDDDE6 

Read your Favorite Poem at the Franklin Public Library, Saturday, April 18

You can read your Favorite Poem at the Franklin Public Library, Saturday, April 18 at 1:30 PM

Come celebrate National Poetry Month at the Franklin Public Library with a Favorite Poem Reading!

Joy Harjo (US Poet Lauriat from 2019 - 2022)

“When I began to listen to poetry, it’s when I began to listen to the stones, and I began to listen to what the clouds had to say, and I began to listen to others. And I think, most importantly for all of us, then you begin to learn to listen to the soul, the soul of yourself in here, which is also the soul of everyone else.”

Favorite Poem Reading hosted by Steve Sherlock 

Choose a favorite published poem that you have long treasured or recently discovered. Share it by reading it to those gathered for this event.

Use the form to sign up to read your favorite poem -> 

https://forms.gle/YvfTLzxTYYtQDDDE6 

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

Limit: Five minutes reading time.

Note: We’ll be in the Friends Room, in the ‘new’ section of the building. The Book Sale is running in the other section.

Note: The audio of the readings will be recorded for future broadcast by Franklin Public Radio. You can choose to have your reading part of the recording or not.

Download the flyer as a reminder or to share

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Y1jgOLx-t9EwxY6suC_7rLOC7B0IGPVK/view?usp=drive_link

There is no fooling around with what's happening at the Library in April 2026 (video & audio)

FM #1697 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1697 in the series. 

This session shares my conversation with Mitzi Gousie, Programming and Outreach Librarian with the Franklin Public Library. We had our discussion virtually on Tuesday, March 17, 2026.

 

We talk about 

• Reviewed the regular open hours, book sale and holiday scheduling for the month

• Closed on Sundays due to budget reduction

• Closed all day on Monday, April 20 for Patriot’s Day

• Library events for April 2026

• In calendar order rather than by category this time around

Registration for those events required should be done through the Town website, Library page. There are nefarious folks trying to convince folks otherwise via Facebook. Be safe, use the official Town and Library pages.

The show notes include links to the Library page and to the calendar of events where registration for some of the events is required/recommended.

The recording runs about 19 minutes, so let’s listen in.

Video link - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7uk0vR3tdKg

Audio link -  https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1697-franklin-public-library-apr-2026-event-highlights-03-17-26/

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Mitzi Gousie’s email -> mgousie@minlib.net 

Franklin Public Library page ->  https://www.franklinma.gov/233/Franklin-Public-Library 

Library event calendar -> https://www.franklinma.gov/942/Calendar-of-Events 

April 2026 newsletter -> https://www.franklinma.gov/m/newsflash/home/detail/109 

-------------

We are now producing this in collaboration with Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm) or 102.9 on the Franklin area radio dial. 

This podcast is my public service effort for Franklin but we can't do it alone. We can always use your help.

How can you help?

• If you can use the information that you find here, please tell your friends and neighbors

• If you don't like something here, please let me know

• And if you have interest in reporting on meetings or events, please reach out. We’ll share and show you what and how we do what we do

Through this feedback loop we can continue to make improvements. I thank you for listening.

For additional information, please visit Franklinmatters.org/  or www.franklin.news 

If you have questions or comments you can reach me directly at shersteve @ gmail dot com

The music for the intro and exit was provided by Michael Clark and the group "East of Shirley". The piece is titled "Ernesto, manana"  c. Michael Clark & Tintype Tunes, 2008 and used with their permission.

I hope you enjoy!

------------------

You can also subscribe and listen to Franklin Matters audio on iTunes or your favorite podcast app; search in "podcasts" for "Franklin Matters"

Franklin High School Freshman Wins Third Place in Poetry Out Loud State Final

Franklin High School is proud to share that freshman Marina Zaki recently won third place at the Poetry Out Loud state final.

Poetry Out Loud is a national arts education program that encourages the study of poetry through a recitation competition for high school students. Participants memorize and recite poems selected from the Poetry Out Loud database and are judged based on their physical presence, voice and articulation, interpretation, evidence of understanding and overall performance.

FHS ninth grader Marina Zaki, left, earned 3rd
place in the state's Poetry Out Loud competition.
 (Photo Courtesy Franklin Public Schools)

On March 8, Marina competed against students from 48 other schools across Massachusetts. She performed "The New Colossus" by Emma Lazarus, "My Grandmother's Love Letters" by Hart Crane and "My Papa's Waltz" by Theodore Roethke, ending her competitive run with a third-place finish. 

The Poetry Out Loud program begins at a local level, with students volunteering to perform in their own schools. Marina won the schoolwide competition and moved on to the district level, where she earned a top five spot and advanced to the state competition at the Old South Meeting House in Boston. 

The first-place finisher at the state level advances to the final, national competition. 

Marina was inspired to participate in Poetry Out Loud after watching her sister perform in the competition two years prior. 

“Seeing so many emphatic and passionate people presenting these poems and telling their story as if it was unfolding right in front of my eyes really inspired me,” Marina said.

“We are so proud of Marina for winning third place at the Poetry Out Loud state final,” said Principal Maria Weber. “The confidence she exudes during performances is inspiring, and it has been an honor to see her grow as she advanced through the competition. We are also so grateful to English teacher Erin Kennerley, who worked closely with the Poetry Out Loud program to bring the competition to Franklin High School and guide students through each round. Without her efforts, Marina and her classmates would not have had this opportunity.”

Book signing event: March 12 at Birchwood Bakery - "A Dance with the Cosmos" - Poetry by Marc D. Cohen

Book signing event: March 12 at Birchwood Bakery

Please stop by to celebrate!

Thursday, March 12, 2026 - 6 PM – 8 PM

Birchwood Bakery & Kitchen

17 East Central St. Franklin

Congratulations, March Cohen has published a book of his poetry: "A Dance with the Cosmos"

via Marc Cohen

"A Dance with the Cosmos"

"I would like to announce that Simon & Schuster has just published my poetry book titled, "A Dance with the Cosmos."

I would like to thank, and add that there is an acknowledgement page in the book;

Michael Cohen , Sean Sylver , Gail M. Cohen, and Kelly Phelan for the editing and proofreading efforts. A special thanks goes out to Amy Adams for the artwork for the cover!

The book is currently available in paperback and hardcover at the link below. In the search box, use the title to find the book.

The poetry book includes about 20 nature photographs that match the theme of the various poems.

Thank you everyone who has read my poetry, and made this an exciting adventure!"

Order a copy -> https://www.archwaypublishing.com/en/bookstore/bookdetails/870852-a-dance-with-the-cosmos

Shared from -> https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1FueuJ7rSu/