Wednesday, April 7, 2010

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.
  ( photos will enlarge when clicked on)

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!


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71 comments:

Kathleen said...

Here's to our teacher dear Pat...
To you I tip my hat...
Her pictures divine
The info so fine,
A friendly informative, chat! :)

Ebie said...

This is a huge collection! I could spend hours and go through the books.

Thanks for the visual tour, Battery Park and the Hudson bring back old memories.

LV said...

Since I love books and the library, your post today was very interesting to me. Loved seeing what nice libraries that are other locations.

Maryrose said...

Oh I do love this...I would spend hours. This is a great post and I love the pics you took, especially the one's looking out onto the park.
Happy Outdoor Wednesday.
Enjoy
Maryrose

bj said...

Oh, gosh...after this long, hard winter, I know you are thrilled to be out and about in your yard.

I really enjoyed seeing this collection. Books are so beautiful...and I do love to read.
Thanks for taking us along on the tour.

Betsy Banks Adams said...

Hi Pat, What a neat place... AND--I love it that it's 'child friendly' --which encourages kids in the areas of poetry and art.

I'd love to go there --and just DREAM and CONTEMPLATE.... WOW!!!!

Thanks for sharing.
Hugs,
Betsy

Natasha in Oz said...

Lovely post. I just love libraries and this one looks user friendly for all ages.

I love Kathleen's poetry too!

Happy Poetry month and Happy Outdoor Wednesday!

Best wishes,
Natasha.

Old Kitty said...

Oh Pat!

I had such trouble opening this post yesterday - blogger kept saying "page not found"! :-)

But this was worth the wait!! What a gorgeous, gorgeous building and library! Thank you for the wonderful pics and great info about this brilliant endeavour!

I love that everyone here is catered for from children to adults to budding poets and to those who just would like to sit down in a quiet place to read!

I did smile at the "Erotic love poems from India" all encased in that exhibition table thing!


And a beautiful reflective poetry to end on too.

Lovely!

Take care
x

diane b said...

A beautiful and informative post. It just is so inviting. I would love to spend a day there.A great building and resource for the community. Oh to visit new York, new York.

People Who Know Me Would Say: said...

Wow - what a dream of a place for someone like me!! I could spend days there....and there is plenty of space for my Aerobed and a sleeping bag.

Anonymous said...

What a wonderful place, my daughter would love it there. Your pictures were great. Have a wonderful day. Denise@cottagesisters

RoeH said...

So many neat things to see in NY....so little time. I've got to go there and live a while!

Sherri said...

What a beautiful relaxing setting with the big windows! Still looks a little cold there! Thanks for sharing these today! I love your pics of New York!

Claudia said...

This is so wonderfully, gloriously civilized. A place to think. A place to dream. Yes!

Joyce said...

Not only is this an amazing place but what is across the street is wonderful too. Thanks for sharing.
Joyce

Ms. Bake-it said...

What a beautiful place Pat! I could spend hours upon hours there.

Good one Kathleen!

Thank you for the tour of Poet's House!

~ Tracy

Vee said...

Ahhh, this is that post I've been waiting for... What a wonderful place and I can only imagine how eager you are to share it with your grandson some fine day. Sometimes poetry is monotonous and miserable, but just as often it sings and says in a few words what could not be said any other way in days. Thank you!

Junie Moon said...

I completely forgot about National Poetry Month so am ever so glad to see your post. The very idea of a Poets House makes me want to rush over and see everything, as though all the poetry encased there can be absorbed through my skin and into my bloodstream. Along with Jane Eyre this month, I'm going to pull some of my favorite books of poetry (Keats, etc.) and enjoy those again as well. Thank you for this delightful post.

Brenda said...

What a wonderful place!

Annalisa said...

What a wonderful place!I always get lost when reading your blog, thank you for taking me with you in your wonderful journeys.These are probably places I will never see, but thanks to your words and pictures they are already in my heart and mind.Thank you!
Annalisa

Jenny said...

I love that reading room. So light and comfortable looking!

What a lovely post, Miss Pat!

And it startled me to see the gray and snow outside.

Arizona is always a world unto itself this time of year!

Claudia said...

Pat-- Its been awhile since I have visited -- so lovely to see your brilliance always at work.

If you ever have an extra moment -- I would love for you to join us in Friday~~Finding Beauty. You always seem to and I would love others to see your wonderfulness.

If you get a chance would love for you to stop by and say hi.

TTFN Claudia ♥ ♥

Lorrie said...

What a neat post about a really neat place Pat. I'm a book lover too, I enjoy poetry and really enjoyed this tour of the Poet's House--the rooms are so big and bright--a very inviting place.

Sara said...

I had no idea! What a beautiful, open, and well-lit space. That is on my NYC trip list as a place to go.

Thanks again ...

Nola said...

What a treasure trove! It looks so comfy I, too; just inviting you to come in and pick up a book and read for a bit.

Anonymous said...

Fascinating place! If they have snack machines, you could lock me in for a week. :)

Marina Capano said...

What a beautiful place Pat!Lovely! great pics and good information!!!

I love the Chilean poet Neruda!!

Have you been in Arcadia FL?
Is a wonderful place!

xoxo

joanna said...

Lovely to see Battery Park, the Hudson River -- and the Poet's House--enjoyed the memory lane.
I traded the city scape for the Northwest splendor -- come see my outdoor Wed. for view of my world,,,and for your poetry it flowed so well -- I can see you inspired by sitting in the Poets House looking out the window at all
I dabble too --- go to my two previous post and see you might like to join The Magpie where we post a poem, Haiku, a short story, to a photo prompt.

Joanny
http://thedowsersdaughter.blogspot.com/

Bargain Decorating with Laurie said...

What a wonderful place for poets or anyone who has a love for poetry. Such a beautiful building, and such a noble purpose. Thank you for sharing this. I think that is amazing that we both have the same little blue and white coffee pot! laurie

Judy said...

Great photos...and most interesting tour. I feel like I was actually there!

My Farmhouse Kitchen said...

i LOVE library's

this was wonderful

thanks for taking us along

kary
xxx

steviewren said...

This post was an eye-opener. I had no idea so much could be compiled on this topic. NYC has something of everything.

Anonymous said...

What a great tour of the Poet's Place. I just chose Kahlil Gibran's Marriage to put on my sidebar for our Anniversary month. Great post as usual. thanks for this.
QMM

Nadeen said...

See why I link Jenn's Alphabe so much. We get exposed to the far reaches of God's Great Planet through each other's eyes.

What is your personal involvement with the Poet's House?

and...

What a great place to inspire children with a literary flair!

Debbiedoos said...

What a cool place!~ I think if my boys had a place like that to go, they may enjoy reading a little more. I love all your pictures...the green room was my favorite. So many books WOW!

Betty said...

You take such amazing photographs. I never knew that library existed. Very interesting post.

Linda @ A La Carte said...

Wonderful information about Poets House. Thanks for giving us a tour.

Viki said...

Wow, that really looks like an amazing place. I love how open it all seems especially with the windows. I bet people spend hours and hours in there.

Kat said...

Oh Pat, they would have to forcibly remove me from this space :) What a gorgeous facility. So bright and open. I love that separate reading room, and the children's room is fantastic. Thanks for the tour! Kathy

mrs. c said...

Oh my stars, I know what is on the top of my next visit to NYC! That is amazing, and I could spend hours and hours reading and listening and writing! Thank you, thank you, thank you for sharing this treasure to us!

Jo said...

This looks like an amazing place to visit ... how lucky you are to have such a place to be ...

Unknown said...

What an amazing place! Thanks for sharing.

Tales From My Empty Nest said...

I always enjoy your tours. What a fun place to visit. Love & blessings from NC!

Prairiemaid said...

Wow, wouldn't it be fun to just stay and stay, until you tired of searching through all those volumes! I would love it.

So very interesting!

People Who Know Me Would Say: said...

Back again for my official Alphabe-Thursday visit....and because I still want to camp out in that library!!

Brenda said...

What a beautiful place! I would want to visit it if I made it to New York. I see you follow Suzanne at the online readers club also. I have not been as good as a follower since I started blogging.

Tracy said...

What a wonderful place! I just love poetry, so this place is really up my street! Love all the bright colors, plenty of seating, corner for children... and ALL those lovely books...*sigh*... This was a treat, Pat :o) Happy weekend ahead, my friend ((HUGS))

Sea Witch said...

Wow, I never knew about the Poet's House. What a wonderful gathering place to visit to shake the poetic cobwebs from ones head. Words are so moving but to bring together poetic verse in one building seems so powerful to me. As always, I adore your blog. Sea Witch

GardenOfDaisies said...

Thanks for sharing yet another one of New York's treasures with us Pat! My nephews wife would love this place!!! She earned a double masters in Library Science and Poetry and is now working on her phd in English. I especially like the children's area.

Amy said...

what what a beautiful place to hang out. Thanks for sharing.

Gracie said...

What an interesting place for who loves reading.....and I guess that if I could see it closer there's my cousin's house on the NJ side of the river!

Donna said...

What a beautiful place, Pat. I think I'd love to spend the day there.

Jenny said...

Hi Pat!

Welcome to Alphabe-Thursday!

This was a lovely L post!

I almost did library but then my granddaughter was sweet so I had to write about her instead!

Thanks for participating!

A+

Julie Kwiatkowski Schuler said...

Hold all my call, I could spend a few months lost in that collection!

jaydubblah said...

Hi, lovely place to go, thanks
Here's mine

Tina said...

Oh what a wonderful tour. Makes me want to start writing poetry again. Haven't really dabbled since college...and I'd be honored to have you visit me at "Life is Good".

nanny said...

I love, love books! No Kindle for me! I want to touch them, write my name and date, and definitely keep them forever!

VKT said...

Great information about the poet's library. Thanks for sharing.

This is my first time participating in alphabet Thursday! What fun! This is my first time participating in alphabet Thursday! What fun!

Rocky Mountain Woman said...

What a gorgeous building and inspirational space.

Thanks for sharing it with us. Stop for stopping by & saying hi. I love NY and try to get out there every once in a while. I'll visit this place on my next visit..

Unknown said...

Well, I think I must visit when we travel to NYC this summer! Thanks for the lovely tour.

MrsJenB said...

Ooooh, books. If there's anything I love as much as cooking, it's reading. Looks lime a beautiful
place!

Mary Beth @ Live. Laugh. Make Something said...

What a pretty post! I adore that children's area... and your mosaic of books is just delicious! and the lime?.. be still my heart. I hopped over from Alphabe-Thursday and am so happy that I did. Please accept my invitation to drop in at my place one day this week when you get a moment. I have become a follower and hope you will do the same. until later...

jeff campbell said...

I love poetry and this space looks wonderful...I also just love Neruda...Nice post...

Tara said...

Hi Pat:

Great post! I am ashamed to say I am a NYer when I read about a place like this I never knew about--but then that is why I have you to come to! :0)

Unknown said...

I would love to visit the Poets house........I bet I could spend hours there.....melinda

mub said...

What a neat place! Are those paper cranes I spotted in the kids area?

Just a little something from Judy said...

Oh how I long for hours to explore a place like this Poet's House. So many books in such a beautiful location. So appreciate this extensive tour that you shared with us.

Pat said...

Thanks, Pat, for the library tour. Loved it. It inspires me to re-sort my own little library in the living room nook. The bottom two rows are my lending library for the neighbor's grandchildren who visit each summer. But now I have my first wee granddaughter about to turn 1 yr. old and, joy of joys, she has moved back to my town and will be visiting my library as well.

Pondside said...

Imagine having a place like that to visit - another huge advantage of living near a big city!
Pablo Neruda is one of my favorites, and I was thrilled to visit his 'house' in Chile. I love the first lines of the poem you chose to include.

Steph said...

I feel like it's been a long time since I visited NY with you. I've missed it. This place is amazing. I could linger at least a day here, but I'm not sure if, even then, I'd get passed the Children's room. Thank you for this lovely introduction.

Anonymous said...

I am so happy to have found your beautiful blog. I have lived in the NYC area for 25 years and love seeing it through your eyes! Thank you for your beautiful photos and stories.
http://priscillawarner.wordpress.com/