Joe Bornstein Celebrates Portland Public Library and Poetry
As we welcome the new month with open arms, hoping for not too many showers but plenty of blooming flowers, we are saying hello to another annual April event – National Poetry Month.
Portlanders strolling along Congress Street, will notice that once again the Time and Temperature Building’s standard ‘CALL’ ‘JOE’ illuminated sign has been temporarily changed. For one week, our city’s skyscraper will convey the message ‘READ’ ‘POEM’ in support of National Poetry Month and the Portland Public Library.
Throughout the month of April, the Portland Public Library is featuring several exciting events to commemorate this month of creative expression. These celebrations include:
· Poetry Contest for Adults, Teens and Children
· One City, One Poem: City Trees by Edna St. Vincent Millay (encouraging the city to read this poem to get people excited about poetry)
· Edible Books Contest (includes poetry category), April 6th
· Children’s event: Andrew Fersch, April 7th
· Poetry Month award ceremony – Saturday, April 28th 12:00-1:00pm in Rines Auditorium. Poetry Contest winners will be announced, and Lady Zen will do a short talk about the process of poetry and a performance.
For more information on the library’s celebrations, please visit: http://www.portlandlibrary.com/programs/Poetrysignage2012.pdf
National Poetry Month, first introduced in 1996 by the Academy of American Poets, was officially proclaimed by former President Bill Clinton on April 1, 1996. The purpose of this month is to increase awareness and appreciation of poetry in the United States.
The Law Offices of Joe Bornstein is thrilled to support the Portland Public Library, and together with them, we proudly honor the beauty and power of the written word.
“Poetry is the universal language which the heart holds with nature and itself” -- William Hazlitt
City Trees
The trees along this city street,
Save for the traffic and the trains,
Would make a sound as thin and sweet
As trees in country lanes.
And people standing in their shade
Out of a shower, undoubtedly
Would hear such music as is made
Upon a country tree.
Oh, little leaves that are so dumb
Against the shrieking city air,
I watch you when the wind has come,
I know what sound is there.
--Edna St. Vincent Millay
