Local poets and patrons can gather at Haskins House Music & Art Gallery to celebrate National Poetry Month every Saturday throughout the month of April.

Business owner and artist, Charlie Haskins worked in collaboration with Columbus-based poet and art organizer, Zachary Hannah of the POSRV (Poetry of the Scioto River Valley) to give poets the opportunity to voice their works in the community.

“We are taking advantage of the good weather, trying to get people downtown and show them that there are things to do,” said Haskins, “music, arts, poetry, we’re taking the month of April to celebrate spring, and new life. Now that the cold has gone away we can all get together again.”

Haskins and Hannah hope to show the regions rich diversity and artistic ability, bringing 20 of Central Ohio’s top talent to Scioto County.

• The month-long event kicks off this weekend, April 2 at 6 p.m. with readings by Columbus-based performer and poet, M. Shaw; National Slam participant Nathan Cintax; Louise Robertson, the First Draft poetry series curator; Columbus’ performer Brandon Crittendon, and Zach Hannah who serves as the curator of the quarterly marginalized people’s poetry showcase BOLDLY.
• April 9 will feature Dayton’s Bradley K. Meyer. Meyer is the founder and editor of Pouch online literary journal. Also performing will be Columbus author Geoff Anderson, Columbus poet Jeff Desalu, Writer’s Block Poetry Night open mic host and former Slam Inc! president Scott Woods, Su Flatt, who was also a competitor in the Women of the World Poetry Slam (WOWPS)and Ed Plunkett.
• April 16 Columbus poets and published authors Sara Trattner, James Jackson and Ara Hawkins will be presenting their works. In addition, Betsy Clark a representative of the Individual World Poetry Slam (IWPS) and WOWPS will performing. As well as Paula J. Lambert, and YouTube Sensation and Button Poetry featured, Rachel Wiley.
• April 23 Zach Hannah and Sayuri Ayers; WOW representative Jordan MC; the facilitator of the Connection Experiment, Anisa Gandevivala; and Steve Abbot, the curator of The Poetry Forum, the oldest operating open mic in Columbus.
• For the last Saturday, April 30, there will be an Open Mic opportunity, along with special readings by local poets Neil Carpathios and Ian Bush.