Wellfleet Public Library

Stop by or call the Library (508-349-0310) to register for this 4 session workshop. Registration fee: $5

 Workshop sessions are open to all levels of writing experience. Limited to 15 participants.

Focus will be on reading and writing poems with emotional content and themes. Examples will be provided, along with discussion of what makes some poems work better than others in terms of connecting emotionally with an audience. Barry will talk about his observations at various poetry open mics in terms of audience response to a poem’s contents as well as to the poet’s way of reading. There’ll be an optional opportunity for participants to perform an original or published poem to see what it is that connects best and least with the audience of  workshop members.

Session 4 on April 14 will be: An Open Mic Reading in Celebration of National Poetry Month, 

Featuring readings amd performances by Barry Hellman, participants in his poetry workshop, guest poets Gregory Hischak, Lauren Wolk, Christine Rathbun Ernst, Deirdre Callanan, Joe Gouveia,and Mary Ellen Redmond, members of the public, and singer/songwriter Kathleen Healy.

One original poem per reader on any theme. To reserve a turn at the open mike, members of the public may sign up in advance by email to bmhellman@comcast.net and will receive an email confirmation. Signup at the door may also be available. Refreshments served.

Barry  Hellman is a clinical psychologist whose poems have appeared in literary magazines, journals, anthologies and broadsides, and won several poetry prizes. He’s the author of The King of Newark, a chapbook of 26 poems  published in 2011 by Finishing Line Press, and has been a featured poet at various venues. Barry hosted The Chapel In The Pines Poetry Series in Eastham, and co-hosts the monthly Poets’ Corner Open Mic at the Cultural Center of Cape Cod in S. Yarmouth. He publishes a website at http://home.comcast.net/~bmhellman  covering poetry events on Cape Cod and other material of interest to poets.