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Virginia Poet Laureate shares work with Michigan audience

Emanuele Berry/WKAR

Each year, in honor of National Poetry Month in April, MSU's Residential College in the Arts and Humanities’ Center for Poetry brings a series of poets to campus to conduct readings and workshops with the public. Current State spoke with Poetry Center Director Anita Skeen and Virginia Poet Laureate Sofia Starnes about this year’s festival, and both read from their works.

Starnes says she’s always believed that writing her own poetry and connecting poems to readers is most valuable.
According to Skeen, Michigan is one of six states that does not have a poet laureate. She adds that the Poetry Center is working on an initiative to create the position.
 
There will be an informal conversation with Starnes this afternoon at 3 p.m. in Snyder Hall, room C304. Later tonight, at 7 p.m., she will be giving a reading in the RCAH Theater.

Skeen will read from her new book with visual artist Laura DeLind on Thursday, May 1, at 7 p.m. at the Schuler book store in Okemos.

Scott Pohl has maintained an on-call schedule reporting for WKAR following his retirement after 36 years on the air at the station.
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