Wayland is Reading Poetry ... And Here's Why

Do you dream in iambic pentameter?

No? More of a "Roses are red, violets are blue" kind of poetry lover?

It's doesn't matter. Wayland Reads Poetry this year is still for you.

"I guess we are hoping that by choosing poetry, we are getting people who are not habitual poetry readers to take another look at poetry and realize its power, beauty and relevance to everyday life," said Ann Knight, director of Wayland Public Library.

In late February the library announced Wayland Reads 2013. This marks the third installment of the program with the first featuring the novel "Breakast with Buddha" in 2009 and the second program focused on the memoir "Zeitoun" in 2011.

A committee of volunteers chooses the theme for Wayland Reads, Knight explained. For 2013, the committee decided on poetry, "the most focused form of verbal expression."

Rather than choosing a particular book of poems, the committee selected a group of anchor poems and anchor poets, many of which hail from New England. The anchor poems are available as a PDF booklet, also available at the library, or via individual links on the Wayland Reads website.

Several Wayland Reads events and discussions will be based on these poems, and many of the poets themselves will be in Wayland in the coming months to talk with readers.

In particular, former U.S. Poet Laureate Robert Pinsky will host the official kickoff of Wayland Reads Poetry on March 24, 2013, at Wayland Middle School. Pinsky will read some of his favorite poems from 4 p.m.-5 p.m.

"I think poets are the true artists of language," said Knight. "Poets have to be masters at compressing a great deal of feeling and thought into very few words. It’s such a concentrated form of expression; each word has to count so much."

And part of Wayland Reads Poetry is about getting Waylanders to talk about what poems have meant something to them.

The Favorite Poem Project asks residents to share their favorite poems (not one they or a family member has written) and possibly even appear on WayCam to explain why its their favorite and read it on camera.

For her part, Knight said she is a particular fan of Mark Doty's work and that Sharon Olds’ poetry "really resonates" with her. (Click the poets' name for links to their PoemHunter.com pages)

"Although I am a great reader of prose, I tend to have many more 'ah ha!' moments of recognition when I read poetry than when I am reading prose," Knight explained. "For me, poetry just evokes greater emotive response."

Check out the Wayland Reads site for a list of events and more about the program.