Cranbury public library hosts 4th annual open mic night in celebration of National Poetry Month.
By: Lacey Korevec
Local poets can take the microphone at an open mic poetry reading sponsored by the Cranbury Arts Council on April 13 at the Gourgaud Gallery.
The fourth annual event is being held to celebrate National Poetry Month. It’s free of charge and open to anyone who ‘d would like to read or just sit back and listen.
Cranbury Public Library Director Howard Zogott said he’s been an avid poet for more than 40 years. He always attends the event and plans to possibly read some of his latest works.
"We try to do this every year during National Poetry Week," he said. "And we often get a handful of people from town and people from surrounding areas who come to read their poetry. You don’t have to read your own poetry, you can read a poem that’s really important to you or you can just come and listen."
This year, Mr. Zogott said, he’s hoping to see some high school students come out for the event.
"A little birdy told me that there is a group that gets together over at Princeton High School that is interested in poetry, that have been writing, and I don’t know whether or not they have been reading amongst themselves," he said. "But this would be a chance for them to read publicly and get public response from people."
Mr. Zogott said it’s important that the Arts Council offers programs like this to community members, even if only a small group shows up.
"The people who come out are the people who are interested and that’s fine," he said. "You get an audience who is enthusiastic, you get an audience that really cares about poetry and that is there to cheer on the other readers and writers. So, that’s nice."
Light refreshments will be served. Those who attend will also be able to view the current exhibit in the Gourgaud Gallery, "Paintings in One Color."
"This is an opportunity for folks who are not in the visual arts to show their artistry."