Poet's House

April is National Poetry Month and therefore a perfect time to visit Poet's House, located at 10 River Terrace, New York, New York, in the Battery Park neighborhood of Lower Manhattan. Poets House is a national poetry library and literary center that invites poets and the public to step into the living tradition of poetry.

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Founded in 1985 by poet Stanley Kunitz and arts administrator Elizabeth Kray, Poets House has created a home for all who read and write poetry.  After being housed in various locations it moved into its permanent home in the brand new 10 River Terrace building on September 25, 2009.

The first floor of Poet's House contains an auditorium for public workshops and lectures.  The Poet's House web site states:

"Each year we present over 200 public programs, including panels, lectures, readings, writing workshops and walking tours in New York City and nationwide. Panel discussions and lectures link the voices of poets living today to a vast literary tradition. Poets House readings presented in public park and libraries cultivate a wider audience for the art. Innovative seminars and workshops taught by emerging and established poets offer aficionados and first-timers an opportunity to explore the writing process in greater depth."

Also on the first floor is the Constance Laibe Hays Children's Room.

This window-lined haven for youngsters features a rich assortment of children's books, manual typewriters, antique school desks, big stuffed animals, and an abundance of other inspiring objects and activities.

The children's collection, containing poetic works by distinguished children's authors and award-winning illustrators.

The Cheney Chappell Exhibition Space at Poets House is located in a second floor, glass-walled, spherical gallery that is cantilevered over the lobby.

The exhibit showcases gems from the Poets House collection and innovative poetry-related works from around the world. 

The Poet's House second floor reading room and library is long and narrow with plenty of comfortable chairs.

With a national archive of 50,000 volumes of poetry, The Reed Foundation Library at Poets House includes books, chapbooks, literary journals, an audio and video tape archive, CDs, and electronic media. It is the largest and most comprehensive poetry collection available to the public in open stacks anywhere in the country!

The collection focuses on contemporary American poetry, and  includes virtually all poetry books published in the United States during the past decade, plus the greatest possible range of poetry published during the last century, in English or in bilingual editions, and representative volumes of the poetry of all times and places. Alternate editions of important works, multiple translations, biography, criticism, and prose works by poets is also included in the collection.

Multiple dictionaries for use are on display.

The main reading room is bright and comfortable.

A separate quiet reading room is also available.

At Poets House, poets and poetry lovers can listen to poetry on tape, watch a poetry video, or read and write in a space dedicated to them. There is an extensive network of support services available,  including reference materials, typewriters, low-cost photocopying and the help of a professional staff.

The wall of windows face west with a view of a portion of the Nelson A Rockefeller Park located across the street.

Beyond the park is the Hudson River and views of New Jersey. This photo was taken in March when there was still patches of snow on the ground.

Poet's House is a wonderful place to read, write, or research poetry. It's a place to dream, to rest, to learn, to contemplate.  Pick up a book of poetry and let the words inspire you!

Poetry

 by Pablo Neruda

"And it was at that age ... Poetry arrived

in search of me. I don't know, I don't know where

it came from, from winter or a river.

I don't know how or when,

no, they were not voices, they were not

words, nor silence,

but from a street I was summoned,

from the branches of night,

abruptly from others,

among violent fires

or returning alone,

there I was without a face

and it touched me."

- 

I am adding this post to the "Outdoor Wednesday" event hosted by Susan at A Southern Daydreamer's blog.  Thanks Susan!

I am also linking up to Jenny's "Alphabe Thursday" on her blog Jenny Matlock --Off On My Tangent. The letter this week is "L" and Poet's House is a library.  Thanks Jenny!