Romantically speaking

The River Poets will hold a reading on Thursday, Feb. 2, at 7:30 p.m. at the Bloomsburg Public Library, Market St. This week's reading is a mashup celebrating Groundhog Day, Feb. 2, and upcoming Valentine's Day.

Bloomsburg University English professor Jerry Wemple is emcee and his students will be guest readers, working around the theme of "Roadkill on the Highway of Love," (From the River Poets: Words can flatter and flatten; were you ever smitten but on the wrong side of the road or tracks? Have you ever been tempted to cross the double line and dared to reveal your soul?)

Manga drawing by Sarah Foster.

More words and music

A program at Joseph Priestley Memorial Chapel on Sunday, Feb. 5, will celebrate Poet Laureate Josephine Jacobsen. The Priestley Chapel, at 380 Front Street, Northumberland, is about a half hour drive from Bloomsburg. Lenore Askew will read several poems of Josephine Jacobsen, whose term as Poet Laureate ran from 1971-1973.

The program will also include music by the Bloomsburg Early Music Ensemble. The ensemble plays music, both sacred and secular, from the 12th to the 18th century. They use wind instruments such as recorders and string instruments such as lute, theorbo, viol and vielle.


Submit your favorite romantic poem in the comments, and I'll post it here the week of Valentine's Day with another ... less gory ... manga drawing.