The celebration of National Poetry Month at Kearney Public Library begins Thursday, April 3 at 7:00 pm with an evening poetry reading by Nebraska poets Laura Gregory and Zach Markussen.
A wise man recently described Laura Gregory as "deadly serious and characteristically elegant, and also deeply, unapologetically silly." So is her poetry. Gregory's writing is typically structured, sound-based, and focused on the nature of individuality.
Zach Markussen is a Kearney native who graduated from UNK in 2024 with a degree in Political Science and English Writing. His poetry often focuses on mental health, politics, and what it takes to make things better.
On Thursday, April 10th join Nebraska State Poet emeritus Matt Mason for a poetry writing workshop at noon. Workshop includes lunch for registered participants. Register by calling the library at 308-233-3282 or online at https://kearney.events.mylibrary.digital/event?id=156134
Then at 7:00 pm on April 10, Matt will also present an evening of poetry. He is the former Nebraska State Poet and was Executive Director of the Nebraska Writers Collective from 2009-2022. Mason is the recipient of a Pushcart Prize and fellowships from the Academy of American Poets and the Nebraska Arts Council.
Thursday, April 17 at 7:00 pm Cowboy poet Jake Riley will share good stories and cowboy poetry for an evening of entertainment. He began roping and rodeoing as a kid, which led to helping out on some local ranches, feeding his love of cowboy culture. He has performed at events from Minnesota to California, including 5 times at the National Cowboy Poetry Gathering in Elko, Nevada.
Wednesday, April 23rd at noon Laurinda Weisse and David Arredondo from the UNK, Calvin T. Ryan Library will present “Nebraska Poetry On and Off the Page”. This presentation will highlight cumulate - artwork that features Nebraska poetry - and Nebraska poetry from the UNK Archives collection.
Tuesday, April 29th at 7:00 pm Dr. Brad Modlin will present a poetry reading. He is The Paul and Clarice Reynolds Endowed Chair of Creative Writing and an associate professor at the University of Nebraska at Kearney. His book, Everyone at This Party Has Two Names won the Cowles Poetry Prize. His poetry has been the basis for orchestral scores, a Brooklyn art exhibition, and numerous speeches, reflections, meditations, and podcasts.
Preceding Dr. Modlin’s reading at 6:00 pm there will be a reception for the Don Welch poetry collection at the Kearney Public Library.
For more information on these and other programs please visit our website at www.kearneylib.org. Programs are open to the public at the Kearney Public Library located at 2020 1st Avenue, Kearney, NE.