Jacksonville Library hosts poetry gathering

JACKSONVILLE – Budding bards are invited to participate in a Jan. 15 poetry gathering at the Jacksonville Public Library, 526 E. Commerce St., from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday.

“We meet four times a year, during each season,” said event coordinator Peter Hoheisel. “We call it a ‘Poetry Celebration’ because we meet to share either our own poetry or simply poems we like. Some people come to simply listen.”

Poetry lovers began gathering informally several years ago, looking “to share news and ideas of interest to (others) who love poetry,” Hoheisel said, adding that “each gathering is a unique event.
“For example, at a recent meeting, Andy Heard, who is from Jacksonville, gave a spirited defense of poetry which follows a strict rhyme scheme and metrical pattern. This was refreshing, because most poetry published today is free verse, which follows no determined structure,” he said, noting that many of the participants often gather for lunch at a local eatery afterward.

For more information, contact Peter Hoheisel at 903-530-7873.