Poetry off the Shelf
Fifth Wednesday Journal: Illinois Poets Past and Present

Contemporary poets read their original poetry as well as poetry by a famed Illinois poet of the past. Christina Pugh, an associate professor of English at the University of Illinois at Chicago; will read poems by Gwendolyn Brooks. Pugh’s second book of poems is Restoration (2008). Susan Hahn reads the work of Archibald MacLeish. Hahn has published several poetry collections, including Incontinence (1993), Holiday (2001), and The Scarlet Ibis (2007), which was also performed as a verse play in 2007 and reprised in 2008. Her first play, Golf, premiered in Chicago in 2005. Laurence Lieberman reads the work of G. E. Murray. Lieberman teaches English and creative writing at the University of Illinois and has published over a dozen collections of poetry. Ed Roberson teaches at Northwestern and recently received the Los Angeles Times Book Award for To See the Earth Before the End of the World; he will read poems by Carolyn Rodgers. Illinois Poet Laureate Kevin Stein will read Carl Sandburg’s poetry. Stein is professor of English at Bradley University. A reception, featuring refreshments and live music, will follow the reading.

Co-sponsored by Fifth Wednesday Journal.