Come Hear a Poem, Not Far from Home

April is National Poetry month and the town libraries are celebrating it with several events throughout the month for both adults and children.

“Poetry is a form of art and each person sees something different in the poem that means something to them,” said Helen Glassen, the adult services librarian at .

In addition to having a poetry display set up in the non-fiction section of the library, there are several events this month in honor of the art, including a poetry reading tonight by local poet Gemma Mathewson, whose work has been published in the USA and India. The reading is in the Atwater Library Community Room at 7 p.m.

Mathewson grew up in Clinton before moving to Branford in the '70s and then to Guilford in the '80s. She is familiar with North Branford as she was the director of The Nursery On Notch Hill, beginning in 1990, for 17 years.

The Friends of North Branford Library book discussion group will also be focusing on poetry at its meeting, which is from noon to 2 p.m. on Thursday, April 21. The group is open to the public.

If you’re new to poetry, Glassen recommends starting with an anthology, though her favorite poets are Emily Dickinson and Edgar Allan Poe.

“Poetry is so diverse and everyone likes different kinds,” said Glassen. “If you pick an anthology with different author, you can go through and find a type that you like.”

National Poetry Month is not just for adults. The Education Committee of the North Branford Women’s Club is sponsoring a poetry contest for children in grade 1 to 6 with groups being split into grades 1 and 2, 3 and 4, and 5 and 6.

Children must submit an original work with a minimum of eight lines and a maximum of 305. Poems may be neatly typed or printed with name, grade, age, school and phone number on the back. Completed work can be dropped off to the Atwater Library or by April 30.