OPA to Co-Sponsor 2017 Sun & Moon Poetry Festival – Delaware, Ohio

Don’t miss the fourth annual Poetry at Perkins benefit reading event preceded by a day-long series of activities on Saturday, June 3, 2017 at various locations throughout Delaware, Ohio. The Sun & Moon Poetry Festival promises to provide a full spectrum of poetry activities and readings. It starts at the Delaware County Library with a workshop led by Dr. Susann Moeller, secretary of the Ohio Poetry Association, on the topic of Space Junk. In the afternoon, a reading hike is scheduled though Stratford Ecological Center that will feature poets from throughout Ohio at various points along the path. In the evening, there will be more poetry from Ohio poets at the Perkins Observatory. Check out the full details below.

Full/Crescent Press, a Columbus-based poetry press, has hosted “Poetry at Perkins: In Celebration of the Night Sky” as an annual event since 2014. Bill Hurley was one of the first poets to be involved and acted each year as Master of Ceremonies. A poet and amateur astronomer, he was instrumental in helping to make the program such a great success. Sadly, Bill passed away last year. He has been greatly missed.

Full/Crescent Press wanted to do something special this year, largely in tribute to Bill, and thought of expanding the evening event into an all-day science and poetry festival. After speaking to friends at Stratford, who were delighted with the idea of putting on a similar benefit reading there, Full/Crescent reached out to the Ohio Poetry Association to see if it might like to host a morning event as well. Susann Moeller's eco-poetry workshop focusing on Space Junk worked out as a perfect way to frame the full day.

According to Paula Lambert, managing editor, “Full/Crescent Press is so pleased with the way things have fallen into place, and so grateful to the marvelous array of poets who have donated their time and talents to both Stratford Ecological Park and Perkins Observatory. Many of the poets knew Bill well, which makes it even more special. It’s bound to be a wonderful day.”

10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Delaware County District Library, 84 E. Winter St., Delaware, OH

Space Junk: An Eco-Poetry Workshop is sponsored by the Ohio Poetry Association and will be led by Dr. Susann Moeller. Moeller will introduce participants to the topic of garbage in space using a variety of documentary clips. She will provide a brief introduction to various elements of poetry and a sample reading to get your creative juices flowing. Coffee and light refreshments will help participants toward the conclusion of a guided writing process.

Moeller is editor of the eco-poetry anthology Open Earth (PM Books), serves as Secretary of the Board of OPA, and is a certified master gardener, urban farmer and Ohio naturalist. She is vested in the community at large through her environmental justice advocacy.

This workshop is free and open to the public, no registration required.

2:00 p.m. – 6 :00 p.m.

Stratford Ecological Center, 3083 Liberty Rd., Delaware, OH

Poetry at Stratford Ecological Center: A Celebration of Nature is a benefit poetry event. After a welcome and brief reading in the main building, guests will embark on a nature hike where they will hear poets, stationed at various spots throughout this lovely preserve, read their work. Guests will then return to main building for a Haiku Death Match hosted by Stratford apiarist and haiku poet Dave Noble. Please note that all events are rain or shine and family friendly; the trails are easily accessible. Featured readers are Joanna Schroeder, Louise Robertson, Juan Armando Rojas Joo, Fred Kirchner, Susan Hendrickson, Sayuri Ayers, Chuck Salmons, Aimee Noel, Fred Andrle, Susann Moeller, Pat Hurley, Natalie Noble, and Mindy Hall. Light refreshments served.

Tickets are $5/person, $10/family, available online at www.statfordecologicalcenter.org/store or by calling (740) 363-2548. 100% of proceeds directly benefit Stratford Ecological Center.

8:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.

Poetry at Perkins Observatory: In Celebration of the Night Sky!

Perkins Observatory, 61 S. Sandusky St., Delaware, OH

This will be the fourth annual Poetry at Perkins benefit reading. Eight poets will read work related to the cosmos, to be followed—weather permitting—by night sky viewing through the open dome. In case of clouds or rain, guests will enjoy a guided tour of the observatory led by observatory director Tom Burns. This year’s readers are (host) Dave Noble, Charlene Fix, Geoff Anderson, Louise Robertson, Mark Jordan, Izetta Thomas, Herbert Woodward Martin, Pat Hurley, and Amit Majmudar.

Tickets are $10 each and available by calling (740) 363-1257. Seating is limited, and 100% of proceeds directly benefit Perkins Observatory.