April Is Poetry Month 2024
Keeping poetry local in Waupaca!
Proud to co-sponsor these events with:
Waupaca Awakens with Poetry Contest
Poetry Contest
Click HERE to view the winners of the Poetry Contest!
Join us for our Waupaca Awakens with Poetry Contest. We invite you to write a poem and be a part of Poetry Month with us! Any length or style of poem will be accepted. Only one poem per poet. Deadline for submissions is April 12.
Winners will be selected and notified by April 17.
Poetry contest winners will receive a gift card, awarded to the first, second, and third place and be offered the opportunity to read their poetry at a Waupaca Awakens with Poetry Reading, 6:30 -8:30 p.m., April 24, at the Waupaca Public Library.
Submissions accepted online or drop off at the Waupaca Public Library, marked — Attn: Laura Jandecek.
Poetry Reading
Waupaca Awakens With Poetry Reading
April 24
6 - 8:30 p.m.
Waupaca Public Library — Downstairs Meeting Room
Free
Our Poetry contest winners will be invited, along with other poets from the audience, to read their poetry aloud. Our featured poet of the evening James Botsford, will be reading his works as well.
Throw your name in a hat, to have the opportunity to read your own original poetry aloud. Refreshments will be provided.
Click Here to for more details about the event!
Fun at Waupaca Public Library throughout Poetry Month
Black-Out Poetry
Find the poetry in random pieces of text by blacking out the unnecessary words. What’s left is your poem!
At the Waupaca Public Library’s Engagement Table the first half of April.
Poetry Crankie!
Come to the Waupaca Public Library the last half of April and turn the crank and read the poetry!
Tanka Poetry
Tanka poetry is a poetry style originating from Japan. A “short poem” or often referred to as a “short song,” these 31 syllables must follow the 5-7-5-7-7 pattern. Similar to a Haiku, this free-verse poem should create beautiful imagery.
Click the picture to learn more about tanka, its history, and see some examples of tanka poems.
For Poetry month, we will be inviting you to write Tanka on the first Wednesday in April on our Facebook page.
Examples of Tanka Poetry
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Spring, making up its
mind, swaying the bird feeder,
stays irresolute.
Did the geese even leave town?
Cardinals and cranes question.
-
Seekers of wisdom
Universal explorers
Lovers of the arts
All have one thing in common
A library card ticket
-
Made a gourd bird house
with entrance perfectly round
gourd then was painted,
transformed for this Spring
Artsy bird experience.
-
"Silly Goose," Mom said,
admonishing my worry.
Such truth, I ken now,
realized long past her flight:
Not one thing lasts forever.
Featured Poet.
— James Botsford
James Botsford is a member of the Wisconsin Fellowship of Poets. Botsford has travelled extensively, has a law degree and 2 degrees in comparative world religions. He is author of 6 books and co-author of an award-winning book of epigrams and photographs. Poetry books by James Botsford include “Them Apples” (2014), Rants + Riffs, Essays with Attitudes (2018) and Imageries: Images and Epigrams (2020).
Botsford has practiced Indian Law exclusively for the last 40 years including tribal court development and Indian religious freedom issues. Botsford continues to serve on the Supreme Court of the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska and as legal advisor to the Indigenous Peyote Conservation Initiative.