OXFORD – There is no name, no sound. All is silence.
“What do we want to call it?”
That was one of many questions put forth at the inaugural meeting of the Oxford Poetry Event Planning committee.
The committee met for the first time at the Oxford Public Library Saturday afternoon to discuss ways to bring poetry to life in Oxford.
During the first meeting the committee settled on the idea of a two-day festival in late April at the Oxford Lions Club.
“On the first day you could have a poetry workshop led by an established poet. They could speak of their own experience. You could also have feedback groups where you share your poetry in small groups,” said Megan McNutt, Oxford Public Library branch assistant, and committee member. “The next day Amateur poets could do some of their reading and the established poet could read from one of their poems as well.”
Committee member, Mary Ellen Stevenson, agreed.
“It can be for poets and aspiring poets. We can have an established poet talk to people about some aspect of writing, so people who are starting to write, or wanting to write, can learn something about poetry,” said Stevenson. “Then you can also have something that would be of interest to a wider group of people, which might be a reasonably well-known poet reading poetry.”
The idea of bringing a poetry event to Oxford was lit upon by Ruthie Patriquin, Community Economic Development Officer for the Town of Oxford, and committee member.
“I did a survey in the fall and the idea was put forth by one of the survey respondents. It seemed like a unique idea for our area,” said Patriquin.
Eleanor Crowley, also a committee member, says they don’t want to do something other nearby communities are already doing.
“It will take away from what they’re doing and we don’t want to do that.”
They never did settle on a name, but Crowley did have one suggestion.
“What I would love is the title, ‘Spoken Word,’” said Crowley.
twitter: @ADNdave
