PERRYSBURG – The world has plenty of poets, but who is out there to read their verse?"It just
seems like more of an ancient tradition that some people are carrying on, but it is drowned out by
everything else in popular culture," said Leonard Kress, a poet, publisher, playwright and
philosopher.Annually April – "the cruelest month," according to poet T.S. Eliot – is designated as
National Poetry Month."It’s so out of the spotlight most of the time, at least there’s one time it
occasionally gets featured," Kress said. "There’s a lot of people writing, but not so much
interest in reading or promoting or hearing it."In celebration of April as National Poetry Month, Way
Public Library will host "Rhymes, Rhythms, and Rhetoric," a poetry reading sponsored by PRIZM
Thursday from 7 to 8:30 p.m.Kress, of Perrysburg, will read from his work and then invite others to read one
or two of their own poems. Those interested in reading can email [email protected] or Leonard Kress at
[email protected]. Several people have already signed up. Any open spots can be filled by those who
sign up at 6:45 p.m. the night of the event.Kress, who is on the faculty of Owens Community College where he
teaches religion, philosophy, and creative writing, has nine books most recently, "The Orpheus
Complex," "Thirteens" and "Living in the Candy Store" to his credit and has
published in leading literary journals.He said he started writing at the end of his college years at Temple
University. His interest was sparked by his course work.He went on to get a Master of Fine Arts in Poetry
from Columbia University."I can’t imagine not doing it," he said. "It’s become a part of my
day-to-day existence."When writing a poem everything slows down, Kress said. He "lets it exist on
its own, let it enter the consciousness."
