McKenna Dutton
Living in the Midwest we appreciate the transition into spring. After a much-too-long winter, the endless snow finally thaws and the elusive sun finally returns. Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Eau Claire will host “Poetry for the Planet,” not only to spring us into the new season but to employ poetry as a means to shine a light on sustainability. April isn’t just National Poetry Month; its also the month for Earth Day. By hosting this event, UUC Eau Claire reverend Julianne Lepp plans to bring these two great celebrations together.
Readers for this event represent a diverse array of our literary community. The line-up includes Lopamudra Basu, Laurel Kieffer, Erna Kelly, Jan Carroll, Jessi Peterson, Woody Myers, Karen Loeb, and Max Garland. Many of the readers have published full-length collections, including Carroll (Enough of a Path To Get Through), Peterson (Century Farm), and Garland (whose latest collection, Into the Good World Again was just released in March). Additionally, Laurel Kieffer recently published a piece in Barstow & Grand, Karen Loeb served as Eau Claire’s Writer in Residence (among other accolades) and Erna Kelly has edited the Wisconsin Fellowship of Poet’s annual calendar.
By bringing these talented writers and poets together, Lepp hopes to encourage the community to participate in something new; exposing them not only to Eau Claire's illustrious writing community but, to the potentially unknown areas of poetry and planet sustainability.
“I hope people get a chance to see the talents of local writers. We have a really strong writing community in Eau Claire,” says Lepp. “We can showcase people's creativity for a good cause which is Earth Day and environmentalism and help people remember that they should be mindful and love the world around them.”
“Listening to poets read is a transformative experience because you hear it in their own words, in their own piece, their own inflection, their own voice.”
While acknowledging that some people tend to find poetry intimidating, Lepp hopes that this event will diffuse any such feelings. “Listening to poets read is a transformative experience because you hear it in their own words, in their own piece, their own inflection, their own voice.” Lepp hopes community members will come out, not only to support local writers, but also to be reminded of, and inspired by, Mother Earth.
Join the Unitarian Universalist Congregation and fellow writers and poets on April 2 at 7:00 p.m. in person or virtually to celebrate Poetry for the Planet.