Success of Poetry Reading

The Library Community Room was filled on Saturday afternoon May 24 for poet Dan Shanahan's program, "Holyoke - The Ground We Stand On: Geology, Mythology, History, and Poetry."  Dan read a selection of poems from his forthcoming book of poetry about Holyoke.  Musicians Robert Jonas (shakuhachi flute) and Steve Sleboda (recorder) accompanied some of the poems.

One highlight of the program was Dan's poem about the Library. Since his March 8th reading he had revised this poem, and printed an illustrated broadside with the text; audience members could obtain a copy for a modest donation (to the Library).  This poem is still a work-in-progress, he said.

Dan's wife, Carla Bee, joined him in song later in the program. They performed a poem by William Butler Yeats that had been set to music.

Also on the program was storyteller Megan Moore, who told a Native American tale of the Giant Beaver, the shape of which can still be seen along the Connecticut River at Mount Sugarloaf. 

This event was hosted by the Friends. Connie Kennedy provided refreshments; Sandy Ward introduced Dan Shanahan at the beginning, and led a tour of the Library afterwards.  During the tour Carla Bee found a comfortable chair with a good view of the park: