Metroparks Toledo is celebrating National Poetry Month by spotlighting five poets who have written poems in honor of five Toledo Metroparks. An annual collaborative initiative designed to amplify efforts in eco awareness and conservation, each poet will read their work as part of the ceremony.

 

In addition to the reading, there will be a slideshow of photographs from each of the Metroparks and original letterpress prints of the poets’ work. A signing and brief reception will follow.

 

Hosted by Georgia Author of the Year Poetry Finalist, Atlanta poet, and Toledo native, Julie E. Bloemeke, the #5poets5parks celebration will feature the work of regional poets including:

 

Cal Freeman (Dearborn, MI), Grace Guy (Raleigh, NC, formerly of Toledo), Charles Malone (Kent), Dior J. Stephens (Cincinnati), and Ruelaine Stokes (Greater Lansing, MI). This year’s parks include Middlegrounds, Wiregrass Lake, Cannonball Prairie, Howard Marsh, and Toledo Botanical Garden.

 

Sven Olaf Nelson, founder of Pineapple Press and Design, will create original letterpress postcards of the poems expressly for the event, and the Metropark photography of Toledoan Christy Frank will be showcased as part of the reading.