3rd poetry festival set Aug. 2 at Roque Bluffs

ROQUE BLUFFS – Poets, would-be poets, and those who enjoy poetry are invited to the third annual Roque Bluffs Poetry Festival on Saturday, Aug. 2, at the Community Center.

Alice Persons, a poet and the editor and publisher of Moon Pie Press, will conduct a workshop from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The afternoon will be free for poets to get acquainted with one another and enjoy the beach at nearby Roque Bluffs State Park or other local attractions.

The public is invited to join the poets for a ham and bean supper beginning at 5:30 p.m. at the Community Center and poetry readings by Persons and others who want to participate.

Persons, who lives in Westbrook, teaches English and business law at the University of Southern Maine. She has published three poetry chapbooks, and her poems have been featured by Garrison Keillor on National Public Radio’s “Writer’s Almanac.”

The festival is sponsored by the local poetry group Salt Coast Sages. Published poets are encouraged to bring copies of their books for sale at the festival.

Reservations are required. The fee for attending the entire festival – the workshop, supper, and readings – is $45; supper and readings only, $5. Checks should be made out to the Salt Coast Sages and sent to M. Kelly Lombardi, 89 Johnson Cove Road, Roque Bluffs 04654.

For more information contact the organizers, thesaltpoets@gwi.net.