The Meter Is Running

The first Denver Poets Day went down back in 1976 as a tribute to Neal Cassady that featured Allen Ginsberg at the mic. Since then, the event has recurred sporadically, drawing many of the region’s best and most revered poets to the stage, from Anne Waldman and the late Thomas...

By Susan Froyd

August 22, 2013

[
        {
          "name": "Air - MediumRectangle - Inline Content - Mobile Display Size",
          "component": "12017618",
          "insertPoint": "2",
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "2"
        },{
          "name": "Editor Picks",
          "component": "17242653",
          "insertPoint": "4",
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "1"
        },{
          "name": "Inline Links",
          "component": "18838239",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 8,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "7",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        },{
          "name": "Air - MediumRectangle - Combo - Inline Content",
          "component": "17261320",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 8,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "7",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        },{
          "name": "Inline Links",
          "component": "18838239",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 12,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "11",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        },{
          "name": "Air - Leaderboard Tower - Combo - Inline Content",
          "component": "17261321",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 12,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "11",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        }
      ]

The first Denver Poets Day went down back in 1976 as a tribute to Neal Cassady that featured Allen Ginsberg at the mic. Since then, the event has recurred sporadically, drawing many of the region’s best and most revered poets to the stage, from Anne Waldman and the late Thomas Hornsby Ferril to members of Denver’s competitive slam teams. And because Denver is such a serious poetry town, the 2013 roster is already bursting at the seams, says organizer Sean McAllister, who’s still trying to find room on the full schedule for even more participants. “We will not just be presenting featured poetry readings,” he explains. “There will also be an open mic, slam-poetry performances, music, educational booths and storytelling with Ed Ward.” Included in that lineup of local talent will be members of all of the city’s premier slam-poetry groups, including Slam Nuba and the Mercury Cafe (both freshly returned from the National Poetry Slam in Boston), 2013 national youth champs Minor Disturbance, and Cafe Cultura.

Denver Poets Day runs from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. today in Skyline Park, 16th and Arapahoe streets, where McAllister is also banking on luring potential poetry lovers from the crowds viewing the final stage of the USA Pro Challenge as cyclists zip through LoDo on their way to the finish. “Traditionally, this is the weekend when Poets Day is held,” he notes. “We decided to go ahead and do it on this day in the hope that thousands of people who normally would not get exposed to poetry will hear some at this event.”

Join in: Admission is free. For more information, call 720-722-0048.
Sun., Aug. 25, 11 a.m.-7 p.m., 2013

KEEP WESTWORD FREE... Since we started Westword, it has been defined as the free, independent voice of Denver, and we'd like to keep it that way. Your membership allows us to continue offering readers access to our incisive coverage of local news, food, and culture with no paywalls. You can support us by joining as a member for as little as $1.

Susan Froyd started writing for Westword as the "Thrills" editor in 1992 and never quite left the fold. These days she still freelances for the paper in addition to walking her dogs, enjoying cheap ethnic food and reading voraciously. Sometimes she writes poetry.

Contact: Susan Froyd

Follow:

Facebook: sosfrojd

Twitter: @sosfrojd