Events and Activities : CP Library Friends Sponsors Free Poetry Workshop Mar. 28

To kick off the second annual Friends of the Center Point Library Spring Gala and poetry writing contest Friends is sponsoring a free poetry writing clinic at the Library on Monday, Mar. 28, at 6:30 p.m.

Local poet Paul Wood will coach hopeful writers of all ages in the fundamentals of poetry. Paul has two published books of poetry in the win column: “The Traveling Heart” and “Tales of Nomadic Socks,” plus a children’s story in verse “Here comes Cousin Albert.” A second Cousin Albert story, “Cousin Albert at the Zoo,” is ready to be published.

Paul, who works at the Duane Arnold Energy Center, finds poetry fun and a satisfying way to talk about feelings and observations. It also is a way to capture his world-wide travel experiences. His next project will be a series of poems about life in the Center Point area.

Paul started writing as a 10 year old English schoolboy and won his school’s essay competition at age 11. Honors are good but even better is finding out you can make money writing too which Paul did by ghost writing love letters and poems for his classmates to give their girlfriends. By 13 he bought his first bicycle with the proceeds.

The Friends poetry writing contest has categories Middle School through High School and this year an adult division as well. Entries must be typewritten and are due at the Library by 5 p.m. on Thursday, April 21. The author’s name, phone number and grade or age (approximate) should be typed on the back of the entry.

Winners will be announced and invited to read their poems at the Spring Gala at the Library Sunday, May 1, at 6:30 p.m. There will be refreshments, live music and poetry readings by local poets Crystal Stallman and Paul Wood.

Gala admission is $10 per person by reservation only. Checks made to Friends of the Center Point Library may be sent to Roberta Gilchrist, treasurer, 4089 Grubbs Creek Road, Center Point IA 52213, or dropped in the Friends box at the Library. Reservations are due April 21.