[image: Inline image 1] Failing to fetch me at first keep encouraged, Missing me one place search another, I stop somewhere waiting for you. --Walt Whitman, *Song of Myself* Dear Tacoma Arts Community: April is a time for daffodils, cherry blossoms and the return of swallows. It's also National Poetry Month. Last year in Tacoma, we had over fifteen events during poetry month. A huge kick-off party in downtown Tacoma. Student readings. Art/poetry collaborations. Spoken word and hip hop. A workshop for teens. *Our first National Poetry Month mayoral declaration!* And many more. For 2014, I'll be compiling the third annual National Poetry Month events list in Tacoma and Pierce County. A poster listing these will be produced and distributed next week. *If you're sponsoring a reading, class or spoken word performance--or other poetry event--would you please email me the time, date & location, by the end of this week (Friday, March 28)? Organizer contact info and an event link would be much appreciated.* Here are some examples of poetry events already scheduled: -- April 10, Distinguished Writer Series (presented Puget Sound Poetry Connection) -- April 12, Writer's Workshop (taught by Kevin Miller) -- April 17, Friends of the Gig Harbor Library reading with Robert McNamara -- April 24, Live at the Auricle (hosted by Tacoma Poet Laureate Lucas Smiraldo) -- April 27, Wayzgoose (festival of print and printers) Poetry is alive and well in Tacoma! In this month honoring poetry across the nation, we'd love to help publicize your local event. Looking forward to celebrating 2014 National Poetry Month in the 253. Thanks! --Maria Gudaitis www.mariagudaitis.com ___________ * Link to U.S. National Poetry Month http://www.poets.org/page.php/prmID/41 * Link to Tacoma Poet Laureate info http://www.tacomaculture.org/arts/PoetLaureate.asp * Link to current National Poetry Month events in Tacoma http://www.poetrytacoma.com/tacoma_poetry_month_2014 _____________ 2014 National Poetry Month poster (graphic included above) The 2014 poster, designed by Chip Kidd, features a bronze of Walt Whitman's hand along with the lines "Failing to fetch me at first keep encouraged, / Missing me one place search another, / I stop somewhere waiting for you." from Whitman's "Song of Myself." It's on the official 2014 NPM page here http://www.poets.org/page.php/prmID/98