Spring has sprung! And…very early. While the solstice clock is still settled in Winter, the jet stream has had other plans as of late: the sky is forget-me-not blue, the breeze is a warm breath and my Bradford Pear tree has marshmallowed into a creamy riot of tiny, delicate blooms. And in the great tradition of Springtime twitter-pated joy, poetry – and the waxing of – goes hand-in-hand with our early blessing of blossoming frolic (come on, you’ve totally frolicked at least once in the last few days). Today is already shaping up for another unseasonable burst of sun (perhaps too much so…82 is a bit high), cap off the day with some free poetry at the Louisville Free Public Library featuring award-winning poet, Kathleen Driskell, and Kentucky Poet Laureate, Maureen Morehead. Beginning at 7pm, Morehead and Driskell will take the stage to read from their latest poetic endeavors, The Melancholy Teacher and Seed Across Snow, respectively.
Maureen Morehead, currently serving as the Poet Laureate for our fair Bluegrass State, is a retired teacher of English for more than 30 years in the Jefferson County Public School System. Now enjoying a poetry residency at Spalding University, Morehead is the pen behind three poetry collections, as well as a fourth volume of poems and short stories, Our Brothers’ War, based on the lives of Kentucky women during the Civil War. Her work has graced the pages of both local and state anthologies, including Place Gives Rise to Spirit: Writers on Louisville and The Kentucky Anthology: Two Hundred Years of Writing in the Bluegrass State, in addition to numerous national literary journals and magazines.
Award-winning poet and teacher, Kathleen Driskell, is the author of two poetry collections, the previously released, Laughing Sickness, and her newest best-seller, Seed Across Snow. Presently acting as the Associate Program Director of Spalding University’s brief-residency Master of Fine Arts in Writing Program, Driskell is also Spalding’s Associate Professor of Creative Writing. Her own creative works have been featured in several national literary journals, including North American Review, The Southern Review and the Greensboro Review. She also finds to time to act as editor for two anthologies of creative writing.
Saunter through the sights of early Spring in Louisville, my friends – because, really, it’s only a matter of weeks before Summer will wield its fire-y, ugly head to blast us with the torch of its humid mouth. BUT – for now – light jackets, soft clouds and sweet flowers induce a gentle intoxication over the soul (see how ridiculously purple it makes my prose?). Get giddy and enjoy some free poetry tonight!
The Louisville Free Public Library’s Main branch is located at 301 York Street
Image: Courtesy of Louisville Free Public Library’s website www.lfpl.org
