By Victoria Gaffney
Poetry doesn’t just have to be about meters of iambs or trochees. It can be a piece of writing that, for whatever reason, has a strong effect on the reader. Language that appeals to the ear, brings something into focus or emotionally resonates are just some of the reading experiences to celebrate during National Poetry Month.
April is the month to revel in rhythmic language and evocative imagery, and Tori Lane Kovarik, Alexandria’s Poet Laureate, encourages everyone to partake in activities in the area. Some are as simple as hopping on a DASH bus or carrying a poem around in your pocket for the day.
After studying this medium in college, Tori Lane began to further explore her writing at Convergence, an eclectic space in Alexandria that blends artistic and spiritual endeavors. Lisa Cole Smith, executive director and pastor, nominated Lane for poet laureate and when Lane was selected, she was astonished. “I was not anticipating the city wanting me to be their representative,” she says. “As a young woman who is heavily tattooed and ‘edgy’ as they have told me, it’s fun to be a role model for poetry and being like: It can be cool. It’s not just Shakespeare and John Donne.”
One of the main events of the month is the DASHing Words in Motion project, a collaboration between The City of Alexandria Office of the Arts and the Alexandria Transit Company. The contest, in its second year, chooses six writers age 16 or older who have written poems about transportation in some form. In April and May DASH buses and trolleys feature the work of Tori Lane and the six winners: Teddie Dyson, Les Friedman, Miles Liss, Wendi Kaplan, Mercedes Mill and Robin J. Moscati.
Throughout the month, the writers have been appearing on the trolleys and buses to read their poetry and have invited commuters to read works as well. Liss read with fellow winners Wendi Kaplan and Mercedes Mill a couple of weeks ago. To his surprise, commuters started standing up and reciting poems by heart. “It was a real communal experience,” Liss says. One woman with a Scottish brogue recited some Wordsworth and Robert Burns, while Liss’ mother recited Emily Dickinson’s “Exaltations.” Two 20-somethings were in the corner on their phones, but rather than the usual texting they were actually looking up works to read. “People got into it,” Liss explains. “It’s surprising how many people have a poem they carry around with them, or have committed to memory.” When asked how he celebrates this month, Liss laughed and responded that he works on his writing every morning. “Some people do jigsaw puzzles; I write poems.” For him every day of the year is a day to rejoice in this medium.
Robin Moscati and Liss are reading Thursday afternoon, and Moscati and Lane will be reading all day on Saturday. On April 30, a Community Poetry Celebration will be held at Athenaeum (the Northern Virginia Fine Arts Association) at 6:30 p.m. where the winners of DASHing Words in Motion will present their work. Attendees are encouraged to read poems as well. This event also happens to coincide with National Poem in your Pocket Day, which is just what it sounds like—people throughout the country will be carrying poems around with them.
Lane doesn’t just want to encourage this writing form in the month of April, however. “Let’s just infuse our entire Alexandria culture with poetry all the time,” she says. Next month she is planning to host an event at the Durant Center where guests can bring all different types of writing that feel like poetry to them. “We’ll talk about how poetry exists outside of this academic, structured, Shakespearean-type realm,” she explains. Rather than just considering this medium once a year, she hopes to encourage Alexandrians to participate in poetic pursuits year-round.
