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U.S. Slam poet Thomas comes to Ferguson
Posted on 03/24/2010
By A.J. O'CONNELL Times Staff Writer STAMFORD -- The Ferguson Library is hosting two days of poetry this weekend. Elizabeth Thomas, poet and coach of the Connecticut National Youth Poetry Slam Team, will lead a poetry slam workshop on Saturday, March 27. The next day Thomas will share her own work. This weekend's activities are part of the Ferguson Library's Poet's Voice program, which has been going on since 1977, according to Carolyn Karwoski, adult reader services supervisor for the Ferguson Library. "We've had a tremendous list of poets who have come to speak at the library," said Karwoski. The program brings between five and six poets to Stamford every year. U.S. Poet Laureate Billy Collins spoke at the library in the 1999-2000 season. Connecticut Poet Laureate Marilyn Nelson spoke during the 2000-01 season. The list of poets is dotted with Pulitzer and Nobel Prize winners and names like Grace Paley and W.D. Snodgrass. "We try to get a good poet, a known poet and a published poet to come to the library," said Karwoski. Thomas, a published poet, performer and teacher, is a fitting addition to the list. She has authored two poetry collections and one book on writing for youth and teachers. She has been a member of three Connecticut National Poetry Slam teams and in 1998 was a member of the U.S. team that traveled to Sweden. "She's got a good reputation," said Karwoski. "We wanted to get a poet who would appeal to a wide audience. We thought it would kind of invigorate the program this year." Thomas's reading will be followed by a reading the poets who attended the poetry slam workshop Saturday. It will be the first such workshop to be held at the library, said Karwoski. Currently there are four poets registered for the program, but the library is hoping to get 12-15 poets signed up, including some students from the high schools. "We're hoping for a mixed audience," Karwoski said. Elizabeth Thomas will conduct a poetry slam workshop Saturday March 27 from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. at the Main Library. Light lunch is included. Register online, www.fergusonlibrary.org or call (203) 351-8237. On Sunday, March 28 at 2 p.m. Thomas shares her own work at the library's Poet's Voice program. Readings to follow from poetry slam workshop students. Call (203) 351-8231 for more information.
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