At the Lawrence Community Read, local leaders and writers got together to share some poetry that inspired them, plus some poems of their own. Presented by the Robert Frost Foundation, the event took place at the Lawrence Public Library, and I had the joy of listening to some great folks and talented poets. People shared poems by Maya Angelou, Billy Collins, Walt Whitman, Robert Frost (of course), and others. I shared a couple poems by Shel Silverstein and a poem from my chapbook that’s written in his style.

Last month, all residents of Lawrence and Andover had to evacuate after gas explosions destroyed several homes. It was both interesting and sad to hear from those who were affected, and their experience. While news coverage has moved on, it’s obvious that the event has had lasting impact on the city, and they’re still recovering.

My favorite performance of the night was by a group of young tap dancers who tapped a routine to Edgar Guest’s “It Couldn’t Be Done.” I have never heard of this poem before, nor have I seen a poetry tap dance routine! It was beyond awesome. So fun, it left the room cheering for an encore.