News Release

The San Francisco Public Library will kick off April National Poetry Month with an inaugural address by the City’s new poet laureate Jack Hirschman and a tribute to Czeslaw Milosz, the 1980 winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature. A number of other events are also scheduled at the Main Library and various branch libraries to celebrate poetry.

Appointed on Jan. 12 by Mayor Gavin Newsom, Hirschman will discuss his goals and intentions as San Francisco’s fourth poet laureate in an inaugural address at 6:30 p.m. on April 4 in the Koret Auditorium at the Main Library. An internationally acclaimed poet, translator, essayist, scholar and humanistic activist, Hirschman has published more than 100 books of poetry and essays.

In the first Bay Area memorial since Czeslaw Milosz’s death in 2004, poets, scholars, and translators will speak of his work and life as well as read from his poems from 1 – 3 p.m. on April 2 in the Koret Auditorium at the Main Library. The award-winning Polish poet and writer lived and worked in the Bay Area for more than four decades.

Other featured events during National Poetry Month include:

• National Poetry Month – Teen Poetry Contest, April 1–29 Teens, enter your original poem for a chance to win one of three prizes from Borders Books and Music. First place: $50 gift card; second and third place: $20 gift card. All entries must be received by 5 p.m. on April 29. Open to ages 13-18. One entry per person. Entries will not be returned. Selected entries will be compiled into a poetry “zine.” Submit entries at these participating branches: Main Library Teen Center, Bayview/Anna E. Waden , Chinatown, Excelsior, Glen Park, North Beach, Ocean View, Ortega, Parkside, Richmond and Visitacion Valley.
  
  
• 2 APRIL, SUNDAY
  Tribute to Nobel Prize Laureate Czeslaw Milosz - Featuring Robert Hass, Robert Faggen, Jane Hirshfield, Brenda Hillman, Mark Danner, Michael Palmer, Anthony Milosz, Lillian Vallee and others.
  Main Library, Lower Level, Koret Auditorium, 1 – 3 p.m.
  100 Larkin Street (at Grove)
  
  
• 4 APRIL, TUESDAY
  San Francisco Poet Laureate Inaugural Address – Featuring the city’s newest poet laureate Jack Hirschman.
  Reception: Main Library, Lower Level, Latino/Hispanic Community Meeting Room, 5:30 p.m.
  Program: Main Library, Lower Level, Koret Auditorium, 6:30 p.m.
  100 Larkin Street (at Grove)
  
  
• 5 APRIL, WEDNESDAY
  Word Painters Poetry on Which to Draw – Clara Hsu, Stephen Kopel, klipschutz and Elz Cuya read from their works.
  North Beach Branch Library, 7 p.m.
  2000 Mason Street (at Columbus)
  
  
• 8 APRIL, SATURDAY
  River of Words Awards Ceremony – Winners and finalists of the annual River of Words Poetry and Art Contest will be honored in this program. Hosted by former U.S. Poet Laureate Robert Hass and artist/illustrator Thacher Hurd.
  Main Library, Lower Level, Koret Auditorium, 2 p.m.
  Reception: Following the program, Main Library, Lower Level, Latino/Hispanic Community Meeting Room
  Related Exhibition: From April 1 through April 30, 2006, Main Library, Second Floor, Fisher Children’s Center
  100 Larkin Street (at Grove)
  
  
• 11 APRIL, TUESDAY
  Two from the House of the Rainbow – An evening of poetry with Fanny Renoir and Tony Vaughan.
  North Beach Branch Library, 7 p.m.
  2000 Mason Street (at Columbus)
  
  
• 11 APRIL, TUESDAY
  Poetry Open Mic: On the Page, Off the Page, Written, Spoken and Sung Word – Hosted by Diamond Dave Whitaker.
  Park Branch Library, 7 – 9 p.m.
  1833 Page Street (near Cole)
  
  
• 18 APRIL, TUESDAY
  Kicking the Moon: Poets Agneta Falk and Tsering Wangmo Dhompa Read - Swedish poet and painter Agneta Falk's poetry collections are written with range and ambition in English. Raised in India and Nepal, Tsering Wangmo Dhompa works for a non-profit that provides humanitarian aid to the Himalayas and was a finalist for the Asian American Literary Awards in 2003.
  North Beach Branch Library, 7 p.m.
  2000 Mason Street (at Columbus)
  
  
• 20 APRIL, THURSDAY
  Slammin’ at Your Library: Teen Poetry Slam/Open Mic – Enter your poem for a chance to win one of several Borders gift cards. Then, step up and share it slam style or open mic style. For ages 13-17.
  Richmond/Senator Milton Marks Branch Library, Sign-ups: 6:30 p.m.; Readings: 7 – 8:30 p.m.
  351 9th Avenue (near Clement)
  
  
• 22 APRIL, SATURDAY
  Sixth Annual Poetry Inside Out Student Reading - Bay Area students will recite great poems in Spanish, read their translations of these poems and perform their own original poetry.
  Main Library, Lower Level, Koret Auditorium, 2 p.m.
  Reception: Following the program, Latino/Hispanic Community Meeting Room
  100 Larkin Street (at Grove)
  
  
• 22 APRIL, SATURDAY
  Poetry Reading by Rebecca Radner and Susan Rawlins – Two widely-published Bay Area poets will present their latest work and some old favorites, on subjects ranging from medical malpractice to toaster ovens.
  Golden Gate Valley Branch Library, 3 – 4 p.m.
  1801 Green Street (at Octavia)
  
  
• 25 APRIL, TUESDAY
  The Selected Poetry of Philip Hackett – A reading of works recently published in the Middle East.
  North Beach Branch Library, 7 p.m.
  2000 Mason Street (at Columbus)
  
  

All programs and events are free and open to the public.
For more information, please call (415) 557-4277.