Community Encouraged to Participate in Attleboro Library's First Ever Favorite Poem Project

The Attleboro Public Library has invited the community to submit a favorite poem and to attend a reading of the community’s best poems!  

Since 1996, The Academy of American Poets has been celebrating April as poetry month in order to increase public awareness of poetry and its cultural significance.

Inspired byt the Academy of American Poets, Jane Duffy,  a poetry lover,  literacy coach and teacher at , brought her idea of a community poetry sharing experience to the Children's Librarian, Amy Rhilinger. The two have been supported in this endeavor by local poets Richard Lebel and Nicole Miller.

“We want to pull as many people from the community to come and share their favorite poems in an enjoyable, no pressure setting,” Duffy said. 

Duffy advises participants to think about selecting a poem that inspires, uplifts, soothes or comforts. Will it be one of Robert Frost’s or Emily Dickinson’s? Will it be serious or humorous? Does the poem move you to action? Pick one that resonates with you and your experiences.

“Poetry speaks to all of us as a common experience. It has the power to bring all of humanity together,” Duffy said.

It can be a haiku or sonnet, anything goes; but you, a friend or a family member can’t write it. Duffy asks that you have read and reread the poem several times and include with your submission a statement explaining what the poem means to you. The poem itself must be read in no longer than five minutes. The deadline for submitting poems is Friday, April 8 so you’ll need to start selecting your favorite soon!

“I want to stress that this project is for everyone, people of all ages. You don’t have to be a poetry lover to have a favorite poem or to be able to submit one from your favorites,” Rhilinger said.

“So far we have about a dozen submitted poems, but we are hoping for hundreds," Duffy said. "It's important for participants to know that all of the submitted poems will be preserved in a binder and kept at the library for the public to enjoy."

To keep the evening at an hour to an hour and a half in length, organizers are limiting  the number of readings to 10 or 12. Participants are also encouraged to   explain why they chose their poem. People and poems will be selected by a panel and will be notified before the event, according to Duffy.

“I’ve always loved poetry," Duffy said, thinking back to her years as a child. "My grandmother read it to me empathizing the rhythm and sound.

"Mrs. Burke, my fifth-grade teacher had the class writing poetry on a regular basis," Duffy added. "I have never forgotten that she once said to me, 'I love how you put words together.'”

Duffy said she is  narrowing down her choices for submission. "I am thinking Mary Oliver’s “The Summer Day” or “Why I Wake Early’.”

The Friends of the Attleboro Public Library will provide refreshments for the evening.

Mail or drop off your poem along with the poet’s name and your statement to “Favorite Poem Project” c/o Amy Rhilinger, Assistant Children’s Librarian, Attleboro Public Library, 74 North Main Street, Attleboro, MA 02703. The public is encouraged to attend whether they participate in submitting a poem or not.

More information is available at www.favoritepoem.org or email arhilinger@sailsinc.org or call the library at 508-222-7820.