Robert Frost Poetry Festival Slated in the Florida Keys For April 11-15, 2007
KEY WEST, Florida Keys — The work of Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Robert Frost is to be celebrated Wednesday through Sunday, April 11-15, on the grounds of the cottage Frost considered his winter retreat.
The 13th annual Robert Frost Poetry Festival is to include poetry and haiku workshops and readings, an art and film event, a poetry slam, a sunset poetry sail and the announcement of the winners of the Robert Frost Poetry Festival international haiku and poetry contests.
Presentations are scheduled featuring critically acclaimed author, poet and Frost scholar Dr. Michael Wyndham Thomas, “Modern Haiku” editor Charles Trumbull, author and poet Rosalind Brackenbury, award-winning writer and modern dancer Cricket Desmarais, nationally renowned actor Richard Grusin and internationally recognized haiku poet Barry George.
The festival is headquartered at the Key West Heritage House Museum & Robert Frost Cottage, 410 Caroline St., with select events at other locations in Key West’s historic Old Town.
Frost, who served as U.S. poet laureate in 1958-59, first visited Key West in 1934 and wrote one of his best-known poems, “The Gift Outright,” on the island. He subsequently paid winter visits to Key West from 1945 to 1960 as the guest of local hostess and preservationist Jessie Porter, staying in the small cottage now named for him.
Now a National Literary Landmark, Porter’s home and the cottage grounds are open for tours as the Key West Heritage House Museum.
Festival events are to begin with a night of poetry, cigars and wine scheduled for 5-8 p.m. Wednesday, April 11, in the Robert Frost Garden at the Heritage House Museum. Cost for “Smokin’ Poetry,” hosted by Sunset Cigar Co., is $10 per person.
Registration for the festival is scheduled from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. the following day at the Heritage House Museum.
That evening, poetry aficionados are invited to discover poetry on canvas, stage and screen during “Robert Frost Goes to the Movies,” slated for 7 p.m. at Key West’s Tropic Cinema, 416 Eaton St.
The champagne and chocolate reception is to include an art opening showcasing the marriage of art and poetry, poetry readings by the festival’s guest poets and a screening of the feature film “Dead Poet’s Society.” Cost for the evening is $25 per person.
On Friday and Saturday, after continental breakfast each morning in the Heritage House museum grounds, festival registrants are to explore poetry through workshops at Heritage House and nearby venues in Key West’s Old Town.
Participants are to focus on poetic moods under the guidance of Thomas, haiku with Trumbull and subsequently with George, “Poems to Shape the World” with Brackenbury, spontaneous writing exercises with Desmarais and a session on how to read poetry to an audience with Grusin.
In addition, a workshop for teen poets, led by Desmarais, is to be held in the garden at Heritage House. Unlike the other workshops, which are designed for festival registrants, this workshop is open to all teens interested in poetry. Cost is $10 per person.
At 8 p.m. Friday evening, a poetry slam is scheduled at Sippin’ Coffee House, 424 Eaton St. Three rounds are planned, so each prospective participant should prepare three poems of not longer than three minutes apiece. Entrants are to be judged on their poems’ content and the strength of the poetry performance, and a $100 prize awaits the winner.
Poets must register to compete prior to 8 p.m. The entrance cost is yet to be determined. For information, call (305) 293-0555.
On Saturday evening, poets can take to the high seas for a 6:30 p.m. “Sunset Poetry Under Sail” cruise with Fury Water Adventures. Appetizers and libations, a renowned Key West sunset on the water and poetry are in store for participants.
Cost is $49 per person, and the vessel departs from the Westin Marina, behind the Westin Key West Resort at 245 Front St.
A night of pirate poetry and sea chanteys is to follow at the pirate-themed Rum Barrel, 528 Front St., starting at 9 p.m.
Sunday’s events are to begin at 10 a.m., when workshop participants offer a reading of new poems written over the weekend in the garden at the Heritage House Museum.
At 2 p.m., a “Celebration of Poetry” ceremony, also in the Heritage House garden, is to begin with readings by the festival’s guest poets.
Subsequently, talented young poets are to receive the festival’s Poetry in the Schools prizes. Awards are to be presented to students from elementary, middle and high schools.
The announcement of the Robert Frost Poetry Festival poetry contest winner and haiku contest winner is to follow.
Cost for the Robert Frost Poetry Festival and its workshops is $175 per person ($150 before Feb. 28). Poetry lovers also can sign up for individual workshops at a cost of $50 per person per session.
For more information and registration, visit www.heritagehousemuseum.org or call (305) 296-3573.
For lodging information in Key West, contact the Key West Chamber of Commerce at 1-800-LAST-KEY (800-527-8539), or visit the Keys Web site at www.fla-keys.com
February 22, 2007
Posted in: United States SouthEast