Dear Tacoma Arts Community, *April is here...it's the National Month of Poetry!* Tacoma poets and arts groups invite you to celebrate with us at extraordinary, meaningful eventsfor you and your family. Attend a reading of Northwest and nationally-acclaimed poets at King's Books, cafes and local libraries. Dust off those journals and notebooks, and read your work at the Distinguished Writer Series, or an open mic sponsored by our city's poet laureate, Lucas Smiraldo. From Downtown to the Hilltop, from Gig Harbor to Yelm, there are words and verses, workshops and performances throughout the region. Attached is a PDF, printable event list of readings, workshops and other poetry happenings--a calender pretty enough to hang in your cubicle or attic writing space. The text version without graphics is also below. More detailed event info is available at our website www. <http://goog_652753359> poetrytacoma.com also. Enjoy! Thanks! --Maria Gudaitis mariagudaitis@gmail.com www.mariagudaitis.com __________ *Haiku Contest* *April 1-30 (entire month)* FREE / Lakewood Pierce County Library *Write an original haiku in the traditional three line five-seven-five syllable format. Enter as many different haikus as you like. Judges will select the top three haiku poems to win a prize. Send or drop off your entry at: Lakewood Pierce County Library, 6300 Wildaire Road S.W., Lakewood, WA 98499 * *Lilah Hegnauer Poetry Reading* *Wednesday, April 3* 7 pm / FREE / King's Books *Join us as we celebrate the release of Pantry, the newest book of poetry by Tacoma-born poet Lilah Hegnauer.* *Poetry at the Tacoma Community House Annual Luncheon* *Friday, April 4* 11:30am / FREE/RSVP / Greater Tacoma Convention Center *Tacoma Poet Laureate Lucas Smiraldo will deliver a keynote performance of poetry at this inspirational event. Free lunch; donations welcome.* *The Body Has its Reasons: a Poetry/Journaling Workshop with Yoga* *Saturdays, April 5 & April 12* 1 PM - 4 PM / $45/$75 / SKY Yoga Studio / 939 St. Helens Ave., Tacoma *Gather for intentional yoga and generate original works. Brainstorming and free writing, students will develop journal excerpts and poems that reflect their discoveries. Receive a blank journal as a gift.* *Commencement Bay Haiku Meeting* *Tuesday, April 8* 6:00 pm / FREE / King's Books *Bring a page of 3-5 haiku or one page of haibun (prose with haiku) to read. We'll also discuss haiku and forms. Meets the 2nd Tuesday of every month.* *The Muse at Morso: Poet Allen Braden* *Thursday, April 10 (2nd Thursday monthly)* 7 pm / FREE / Morso Wine Bar / 9014 Peacock Hill Ave., Gig Harbor / 21+ event *Morso hosts prominent poets and authors to share work from the community. April's featured author/poet is Allen Braden, author of A Wreath of Down and Drops of Blood and Elegy in the Passive Voice.* *Distinguished Writer Series - Hannah Nguyen Reading* *Friday, April 11* 7 pm / FREE / King's Books / 218 St. Helens Ave., Tacoma *One of the state's longest-running poetry events! Guest reader is Hannah Nguyen, a 2012 Pushcart nominee in poetry. Read your work at the open mic afterwards!* *Poetry is Not a Gated Community: Writer's Workshop Led by Kevin Miller* *Saturday, April 12 * 10 am to Noon / $20 / Urban Grace Church / 9th and Market, Tacoma WA *We will approach poetry as it relates to permission and possibility, using poems as models and use lines to inspire and challenge. Generate new pieces and sharpen your editing, revision, and correspondence skills. * *Words and Music: Poet/Singer-Songwriter Tom Kimmel* *Saturday, April 12 * *FREE / Vaughn / Contact Watermark Writers for details* *Tom Kimmel's songs have been featured in film, in television and on albums by dozens of artists. The Sweetest & the Meanest is his first collection of poems. Intimate waterfront setting. More info at www.watermarkwriters.com <http://www.watermarkwriters.com>.* *'Round the Poets Fire* *Thursday, Apr 17 * 7:00pm / $5 / The Triad Theater / 102 E. Yelm Ave., Yelm *Come share original poetry with other poets! Open to all poets 21 and over. Held 3rd Thursdays. * *A Blend of Words and Wine* *Thursday, April 17 * 7:00 pm / FREE / Blend Wine Shop / 8914 Key Peninsula Hwy N, Lakebay *Join the Watermark Writers in Key Center at a monthly poetry Open Mic. This literary event is held the third Thursday each month.Your favorite beverages available by the glass. Call 253-778-6559 for information.* *Pierce County Library-- Robert McNamara Reading* *Thursday, April 17* 7 pm / FREE / Gig Harbor/Peninsula Library *Robert McNamara teaches in UW Interdisciplinary Writing Program and serves as University Director of the Puget Sound Writing Project. He is the author of three books of poetry, most recently Incomplete Strangers (2013). He also translated a selection of poems by the Bengali poet Sarat Kumar Mukhopadhyay. Hosted by Doug Murphy. Sponsored by Friends of the Gig Harbor Library. 253-548-3305* *The Hilltop LAZ Open Mic* *Friday, April 18 * 8-10 pm / FREE / B Sharp Coffee House / 706 Opera Alley *We are a group of young poets who hope to inspire new writers and veteran writers. Join us for an open mic--step up and share your stories and rhymes with the room. We are also accepting submissions to our zine, The Hilltop LAZ, until May 1st.* *Why I Self Publish & Why You Should or Should Not Do the Same* *Saturday, April 19* 10am-12:30pm / FREE but RSVP in advance / Write@253 / 1310 MLK Way, Tacoma *What would that take and how hard is it to publish your own book? What are the benefits and the drawbacks of self publishing? Sue will bring her books and walk you through the creation of both books and ebooks. Refreshments provided, please feel free to bring a dish of your own to share! RSVP at hilltopwomenwrite.253@gmail.com <hilltopwomenwrite.253@gmail.com>.* *Live at the Auricle* *Thursday, April 24* 7 pm / FREE / B Sharp Coffee House / 706 Opera Alley, Tacoma *Tacoma Poet Laureate Lucas Smiraldo hosts this monthly event. Join us the fourth Thursday for a fusion of spoken word with a new performing artist, usually a musician. Features Antonio Davidson Gomez, Percussion Master, followed by an Open Mic.* *Wayzgoose--Print and Book Art Fair* *Sunday, April 27* 11am-4pm / FREE / King's Books *Print & book arts extravaganza. Broadsides, posters and poems on display and for purchase. * *Pierce County Library-- Janée Baugher Reading & Open Mic* *Wednesday, April 30* 6:30 pm / FREE / Summit Pierce County Library, 5107--112th St. E., Tacoma *Janée Baugher, author of "Coördinates of Yes," reads. Open Mic after for you to share an original or favorite poem (sign up at 6:15 pm). Light refreshments provided. * *Pierce County Library-- Holly Hughes Reading* *Thursday, May 8* 7 pm / FREE / Gig Harbor/Peninsula Library *Holly J. Hughes is the editor of the award-winning anthology, Beyond Forgetting: Poetry and Prose about Alzheimer's Disease, and Boxing the Compass. Hosted by Doug Murphy. Sponsored by Friends of the Gig Harbor Library. 253-548-3305*