Poetry

In honor of National Poetry Month in 2022, SAPL will be hosting the following events during the month of April:

Voces Cósmicas poets honor Cesar Chavez with a community reading.

SATURDAY, MARCH 26, 2022, 2 – 3:30PM at Collins Garden Library

Join Voces Cosmicas poets as they celebrate Cesar Chavez's Legacy, featuring Jim LaVilla-Havelin San Antonio poet and poetry editor for the San Antonio Express News as well as Voces Cosmicas; Alicia Zavala Galvan, Jacinto Jesus Cardona, Suzanne Green, Susana Nevarez-Marquez, Ed Cody, Arturo Mantecon, Carlos Carreon, Carlos Loera, Fernando Esteban Flores, featuring Musical guest "Cloud Zen".

For more details about this in person event at Collins Garden Library click on the link below:

Voces Cósmicas poets honor Cesar Chavez with a community reading., Saturday, March 26, 2022, 2 - 3:30pm - Events Calendar (mysapl.org)

Points of Departure:  Octavio Quintanilla Poetry Workshop (ONLINE EVENT)

TUESDAY, MARCH 29, 2022, 6 – 8PM  and TUESDAY, APRIL 5, 2022, 6 – 8PM 

This is a two-session poetry workshop designed to have you see poetry-making with a fresh set of eyes. Discover new inroads into the poetry process through three distinct approaches: lyric, visual, and form. In this workshop, there will be an emphasis on process and generating new work. Keywords: close reading / blank page // first word // first line // first image // first doodle // first draft. Take away from this class innovative ideas on how to kickstart your future poems.  Registration is required

For more details about the first part of the two part online event and to register for it, click on the link below:

Points of Departure: Octavio Quintanilla Poetry Workshop, Tuesday, March 29, 2022, 6 - 8pm - Events Calendar (mysapl.org)

For more details about the second part of the two part online event and to register for it, click on the link below:

Points of Departure: Octavio Quintanilla Poetry Workshop, Tuesday, April 5, 2022, 6 - 8pm - Events Calendar (mysapl.org)

Jazz Poets of San Antonio

SATURDAY, APRIL 2, 2022, 3 – 4PM at Bazan Library

TUESDAY, APRIL 19, 2022, 6 – 7PM at Las Palmas Library

For over a decade, the JPSA has been creating spoken word with unique musical accompaniments. Come express yourself and get a taste of the band as they improvise music behind your spoken word.

For more details about this in person event at Bazan Library click on the link below:

Jazz Poets of San Antonio, Saturday, April 2, 2022, 3 - 4pm - Events Calendar (mysapl.org)

For more details about this in person event at Las Palmas Library click on the link below:

Jazz Poets of San Antonio, Tuesday, April 19, 2022, 6 - 7pm - Events Calendar (mysapl.org)

Anthony the Poet

SATURDAY, APRIL 23, 2022, 2 – 3PM at Central Library

A three-time San Antonio Grand Slam Poetry Champion, Anthony has represented our city in competition on six different occasions at the National Poetry Slam. Come listen to the founder of The University Of The Spoken Word, a collective of spoken word artists that has performed at some of the city's most high-profile cultural events.

For more details about this in person event at Central Library click on the link below:

Anthony the Poet, Saturday, April 23, 2022, 2 - 3pm - Events Calendar (mysapl.org)

Voces Cosmicas celebrates National Poetry Month

SATURDAY, APRIL 23, 2022, 2 – 3:30PM at Collins Garden Library

These past 2 years have been taxing on our communities. The poets of Voces Cosmicas presents a literary celebration to uplift the spirits of our citizens. Poetry defines our daily lives, more than we think. It is in this spirit that we extend our invitation to join us as we present “Poetry is like Bread for Everyone” in fellowship, friendship and well being. Voces Cosmicas includes: Alicia Zavala Galvan, Jacinto Jesus Cardona, Suzanne Green, Susana Nevarez-Marquez, Ed Cody, Arturo Mantecon, Carlos Carreon, Carlos Loera, Fernando Esteban Flores, featuring Musical guest “Rita and Matt Ortiz of the Velvet Hues”.

For more details about this in person event at Collins Garden Library click on the link below:

Voces Cosmicas celebrates National Poetry Month, Saturday, April 23, 2022, 2 - 3:30pm - Events Calendar (mysapl.org)

Poetry Circle

MONDAY, APRIL 11, 2022, 6:30 – 7:30PM at Parman Library

TUESDAY, APRIL 26, 2022, 6:30 – 7:30PM at Central Library (Latino Collection and Resource Center)

Join us for an opportunity to share your poetry with others in honor of National Poetry Month.  Bring at least one poem you would like to share and become part of our poetry group reading circle in which we will take turns reading  poems.  The time allotted each person will be based on the number of readers.  All poetry readers in the circle who wish to get feedback from others in the circle will also have this opportunity.  Those who wish to merely come and listen are also welcome.   Masks are recommended.   To attend this event, you must be 18 years or older.

For more details about this in person event at Parman Library click on the link below:

Poetry Circle, Monday, April 11, 2022, 6:30 - 7:30pm - Events Calendar (mysapl.org)

For more details about this in person event at Central Library (Latino Collection and Resource Center) click on the link below:

Poetry Circle, Tuesday, April 26, 2022, 6:30 - 7:30pm - Events Calendar (mysapl.org)

Poetry Collage

MONDAY, APRIL 11, 2022, 6 - 7:30 PM at Cortez Library

Do you love poetry and creating collages? Are you a fan of thrifty crafts? Poetry collage is a piece of art created by combining photos, clippings, or small objects onto a surface. Join us at Cortez Library for this fun even celebrating National Poetry Month. 

For more details about this in person event at Cortez Library click on the link below:

Poetry Collage, Monday, April 11, 2022, 6 - 7:30am - Events Calendar (mysapl.org)

Poetry Book Review of "Wade in the Water" in honor of National Poetry Month:

National Poetry Month Book Review - YouTube

In honor of National Poetry Month in 2021, SAPL hosted the following events during the month of April:

Voces Cósmicas presents “Deferred Dreams”

SATURDAY, APRIL 24, 2021, 2 – 3:30PM

2020 was a difficult year for everyone. Many plans, goals, aspirations & pending projects were stifled and, in some cases, abandoned altogether. Virtual gatherings dominated the literary & artistic scene.
To commemorate National Poetry Month 2021, we have titled our event, “Deferred Dreams”. We may have had our dreams delayed but not deterred. Join us as we celebrate poetry to combat the pandemic.
Poets this year include: Guest Poet: Jim LaVilla-Havelin, SA Express-News Poetry Editor, Alicia Zavala Galvan, Suzanne Green, Michele Nalls, Susana Nevarez Marques, Ed Cody, Jacinto Jesus Cardona, Liz Vera, Carlos Loera & Fernando Esteban Flores.

For more details about this online event and to register goto: 

https://www.mysapl.org/Events-News/Events-Calendar?trumbaEmbed=view%3Devent%26eventid%3D150906193

Do You Haiku?        

SATURDAY, APRIL 24, 2021, 4 – 5PM

Join us for a look at the poetic form Haiku and explore it's history and contemporary works and authors. Create and share your own.

For more details about this online event and to register goto:

https://www.mysapl.org/Events-News/Events-Calendar?trumbaEmbed=view%3Devent%26eventid%3D151763886

Rhythm & Rhyme - Creative Writing Workshop

This virtual, Zoom based, multi-series workshop is based off of cultural narratives written in the style of poetry and prose set to music composition and recited in spoken word performance.  It will be done in three parts on three different days in April:

Part 1

SUNDAY, APRIL 18, 2021, 3 – 4:30PM

The first event in the one and half hour creative writing workshop will brainstorm topics that include overcoming trauma, anecdotes about heritage and family rituals, or personal stories of identity that include upbringing and rites of passage.

For more details about this online event and to register goto:

https://www.mysapl.org/Events-News/Events-Calendar?trumbaEmbed=view%3Devent%26eventid%3D151891614

Part 2

SATURDAY, APRIL 24, 2021, 5:30 – 6:30PM

This second event will continue upon the work covered in the prior workshop and transition into working on individual pieces to perform at the third event.

For more details about this online event and to register goto:

https://www.mysapl.org/Events-News/Events-Calendar?trumbaEmbed=view%3Devent%26eventid%3D151927543

Part 3

TUESDAY, APRIL 27, 2021, 6 – 8PM

This third event is an open mic where we encourage participants to read their work, be it a poem or a slam piece. We will have library staff as judges and prizes to give away.

For more details about this online event and to register goto:

https://www.mysapl.org/Events-News/Events-Calendar?trumbaEmbed=view%3Devent%26eventid%3D151891622

Special San Antonio Public Library "In the Stacks" episode celebrating National Poetry Month:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qklh_OP11_U 

Poetry Book Review of "The Selected Poetry of Rainer Maria Rilke"in honor of National Poetry Month:

https://youtu.be/PEPkjmZhtZw  

Poetry Take and Make Crafts were available at library locations in late April and early May.