Charles Rafferty Will Offer A Reading For Poetry Series

BETHEL — Newtown resident and award-winning poet Charles Rafferty will be the guest reader on January 14 for Wednesday Night Poetry, a program presented at Bethel Arts Junction

The program meets every Wednesday and features accomplished poets, spoken word artists, spoken word bands, an acoustical open mic and a poetry critique workshop, in a warm, friendly atmosphere where poets can experience sharing their work with others while receiving encouragement. Doors open at 7:30, open mic runs from approximately 7:45 until approximately 8:45, featured artist(s) from approximately 8:50 to approximately 9:20, and the poetry workshop runs from approximately (poet time is never exact!) 9:45 until 10:15 p.m.

For the workshop writers should bring copies of their poem(s) to pass around. Attendees are welcome to have a poem critiqued every week or just sit in and listen to the discussion. Exposure to new ideas, new people, and wonderful poetry is what the group is all about.

Top poets from around the world have been featured artists in Bethel, home of the longest running poetry open mic and featured reader series in the state.

Mr Rafferty’s book The Man on the Tower was published by the University of Arkansas Press in 1995 after the author won Arkansas Poetry Award. Where the Glories of April Lead was then published by Mitki/Mitki Press in 2001. In addition, Mr Rafferty has several chapbooks out and placed poems in such journals as Massachusetts Review, DoubleTake, TriQuarterly, The Southern Review, The Underwood Review, Quarterly West, Washington Square, Connecticut River Review, Louisiana Literature, The Laurel Review, Poetry East, and Connecticut Review, as well as in an anthology published by Carnegie Mellon University Press-American Poetry: The Next Generation.

He has received the Robinson Jeffers Tor House Prize for Poetry, The Brodine/Brodinsky Poetry Prize, and a grant from Connecticut Commission on the Arts. He currently works as an editor for a technology consulting firm.

Wednesday Night Poetry is held at Bethel Arts Junction,   at 5 Depot Place (the old Bethel train station). Suggested donation is $1. For additional information contact Faith Vicinanza at 426-3388.