All Poetry Considered: Major Festival in Celebration of Poetry & Journals Will Draw Hundreds

Slams, conferences, competitions—poetry events have been red hot for the last decade or so. New Jersey in particular has been an epicenter of poetry writing, readings and published journals.  

For the past eight years, the area poetry world has converged on West Caldwell where township resident, poet and former educator Diane Lockward holds widely attended, annual poetry events.

On Sunday, May 15 at the : A Celebration of Literary Journals at the West Caldwell Public Library, gentle and not so gentle reader, you can hear the best of New Jersey/Metro New York City poets and celebrate the poetry journals that make possible the excitement.

“Hundreds of poets and poetry lovers are expected,” Lockward said. “Our main purpose is to honor the poetry journals—the publications–that give us poets a place for our work. The main idea here is to support the journals and spread the word about how and where to submit poems.”

Copies of 15 regularly published journals will be available for purchase or subscription (prices range from about $5 to $15); many of the editors will be on hand, too, fielding questions; some reading their own works.

“The journals range from newer, saddle-stapled publications to the long established “Literary Review” and “Paterson Literary Review,” which are bound and more than a 100 pages long,” Lockward said.

This being New Jersey, many of the journals boast names celebrating their Garden State origins: “Journal of New Jersey Poets,” “Edison Literary Journal,” “Exit 13,” "U.S. 1 Worksheets,” The Stillwater Review,” and of course, the aforementioned “Paterson Literary Review,” edited by Maria Mazziotti Gillan. Gillan is the founder and director of the well known Poetry Center at Passaic County Community College and 2008 winner of the American Book Award.

"Diane has done an excellent job of organizing and publicizing the literary festival, which is a wonderful resource for the poets and writers of the region,” Mazziotti Gillan said. “It's important to know what each journal or press is publishing and to talk to the editors and listen to writers they've published.”

Lockward, who has published three volumes of poetry, been included in Garrison Keillor’s "Good Poems for Hard Times" and been recognized by the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation, gave a rundown of the journals: “'New York Quarterly’ is funky and publishes edgier poems,” Lockward said. “'Raintree Review' is devoted to formal poems—sonnets, villanelles, sestinas—sestinas are very demanding, I’ve done two in my literary life. ‘Tiferet’ out of Fairleigh Dickinson has a spiritual focus.”

“The goal is to have a cross section of journals,” Lockward said. Some are the best places for a beginning poet to submit; others such as “Lips,” for the very accomplished.”

The 24 poets who will be reading include prestigious names who have appeared on national radio or performance venues. Among these is Jim Haba the founder of the Geraldine R. Dodge Poetry Program (1986) who through 2010 produced the famed biennial Dodge Poetry Festivals. Haba also created Dodge Poetry-in-the-Schools Program and has consulted extensively for PBS television programming on poetry.

Asked about the Caldwell event, Haba responded by e-mail: "All such celebrations of the local poetry community play a critical role in preserving and strengthening the cultural ecosystem upon which the art depends,” Haba said. “Thanks to all who are helping to keep poetry alive and healthy in New Jersey."