Poetry on the Plaza: Community Poetry Readings

Join us outdoors for Poetry on the Plaza and have the opportunity to recite your very own poem to celebrate National Poetry Month. Community poetry recitations will be preceded by an introduction and reading from keynote speaker and local poet Emily Beane. 

Registration is required only for participants who wish to recite their poems, all others are free to attend and enjoy the poetry and keynote presentation without registering.

There are 12 registration spots. Each spot reserves a reading time lasting 5 minutes. The first community reading will begin at 6 p.m., following our keynote speaker. 

Please note, if we have extra time at the end, we will invite anyone registered on the waitlist to read their poetry. So feel free to register even if all 12 initial spots are filled! In years past, we have had extra time at the end for more community participation. 

There is limited seating outdoors. Feel free to bring a blanket to sit on the grassy areas of our Plaza. In the event of inclement weather, this event will be held in room 311A.

ABOUT OUR FEATURED SPEAKER: Emily Beane is a poet, music blogger, radio host, and aspiring librarian. She is a graduate of West Virginia State University and is currently enrolled in the Library Science program at Kent State. She further divides her time between work at Charleston’s community radio station WTSQ, and at the Kanawha County Public Library where she frequently recommends Ted Chiang, Mary Oliver, and Charles Bukowski to patrons. Emily recently published her first book -- Collected Poems - 2017-2024. She is, somewhat accidentally, a lifelong West Virginian.