The 2019 “Seat in the Shade: A Summer Poetry Series” gets underway tuesday, July 16. The series is hosted by Poetry for Educators founder, Melisa Cahnmann-Taylor, a professor of language and literacy education at the University of Georgia.
“This is the seventh year that we’ve held Seat in the Shade poetry series, it’s held in the summertime when things seem a little slow and a little hot," Cahnmann-Taylor said. "So we invite the Athens public to take a seat in the shade nad hear some of the greatest Georgia poets read to us from their verse.”
This year, the series focuses on poets from Georgia. They include Jericho Brown, Deirdre Sugiuchi, Collin Kelly and Teresa Davis, as well as emerging poets and professors, along with Cahnmann-Taylor herself.
“The poets take turns reading some of their poetry and I always reserve time and the end to talk about their craft and to allow the audience to ask questions. Sometimes people feel like they don’t understand poetry, at least on their first reading.”
She describes what those attending can expect.
“The poets are encouraged to give some information about their poems to help bring readers along and I do pick poets who are both resonant and deep as well as accessible.”
Organizers say the environment for the readings is relaxing and conducive to conversation.
“Hopefully people will linger, introduce themselves to one another, meet the poets, check out [sponsor] Avid Book Shop,” Cahnmann-Taylor said.
The readings are Tuesdays July 16, July 23, and July 30. The events start at 5:30 pm at Hendershots.
