Poetry survey event will debut in Lafayette

Lafayette — The Six Centuries Club and Sensations Magazine kick off their third season of free-to-attend public events in Sussex County, with The Historic American Poetry Survey, on Saturday, June 6, starting at 1 p.m., in Olde Lafayette Village. The poetry survey offers a presentation of classic American poems, written between the years 1700 and 1775. A second reading, covering the years 1776 and 1820, will take place at the same site on Saturday, July 18. Participants may research and read poems, or simply sit back and listen. Each reader should research and bring three poems written by American authors: one from the years 1701-1725, one from the years 1726-1750, and one from the years 1751-1776. Poems should be one page or less (no epics). Event organizer David Messineo will bring some extra poems, for those who wish to read but don’t have the time to do the research. Though novice readers are encouraged to take part, the reading series will include professional published authors and readers, some of whom will be journeying from New York City to bring voice to the June 6 debut. According to Messineo, “While there are a number of ‘open mic’ reading spaces for poetry across New Jersey, what’s typically offered is new original poetry by the original writers. Unlike what’s often been called a ‘dead poet’ series, our readings are not structured around one author, but around several American authors of a particular time period. No public poetry reading series in New Jersey presently offers this, so we are definitely filling an educational void.” Planners are seeking a festival picnic atmosphere and participants are encouraged to bring a picnic lunch. The event site is the little-used covered pedestrian bridge behind the Lafayette Mill Antiques Center, accessible by a municipal lot that adjoins the Johnny Angel store along Route 15 in Lafayette. From this location, with the babbling Paulinskill River underneath, organizers expect to offer a fun event, open to all ages. Parking and other details about the event are at www.sensationsmag.com, “Upcoming Events” button.