• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Alert

Library Operations Update: Express Library Service More Info

arlingtonva.us
MENUMENU
  • Join Now
  • My Account
    • Login
    • About My Account
    • My eAccounts
    • Join Now
  • Holds Pickup
  • Locations
  • News
  • Help
    • FAQs
    • Contact Us
    • By Appointment
  • Contact Us

Arlington Public Library

MENUMENU
  • Events
    • Featured Events
    • Events Calendar
  • Search
      • Browse New
      • Browse All
  • eCollection
    • eAudiobooks
    • eBooks
    • Digital Magazines
    • Learning Tools
    • Research Tools
  • Research
    • Research Portal
    • Research Tools A-Z
    • Local History
  • Services
    • Accessibility Services
    • Borrowing
    • Holds Pickup
    • Get Reading Recs
    • Nonprofits
    • Resume & Job Search
    • Technology
    • Wi-Fi
    • Unavailable Services
    • Accounts and Borrowing
    • Computer Services
    • Meeting Rooms
    • Accessibility Services During COVID-19
    • Make an Appointment
    • More Services
  • Explore
    • Catalog
      • Catalog Search
      • Catalog Browse
      • Digital Archives
      • Borrowing Collections
      • Book Lists
    • Kids & Teens
      • For Babies and Preschoolers
      • For Elementary Schoolers
      • Middle and High Schoolers
    • Local History
      • Research Room
      • Community Archives
      • Digital Collection
    • Support the Library
      • Friends of the Library
      • Giving Opportunities
      • Donating Materials
    • Popular
      • Lynda.com
      • Consumer Reports
      • Overdrive
      • RBdigital
    • EXPLORE MORE
  • Join Now
  • My Account
    • Login
    • My eAccounts
    • About My Account
    • Get a Free Library Card
  • Locations
  • News
  • Help
  • Contact Us

The Poet is IN… Our Hearts

This story is republished by permission from Courtney LeBlanc, one of several local poets who participated in The Poet is IN this year. The Poet is IN took place at various Arlington Public Library locations throughout the month of April - National Poetry Month - and is a partnership between the Library and Arlington Cultural Affairs.

April 11, 2018

Last Saturday, I was one of the resident poets at Arlington Public Library, writing poems for library patrons.

The library started doing this a few years back, and I’ve participated several times. It’s a great way to celebrate National Poetry Month and a great way to bring poetry to the general public.

Courtney in the Poet is IN booth at Central Library

On Saturday I sat for two hours and wrote poems for anyone who stopped by. In total I wrote ten poems on the following topics: new relationships, cherry blossoms, libraries, spring, transience, traveling, graduating, bread, beauty, and ducks. Ten poems on ten wildly different topics.

The next day I opened my email to find this:

Hi, I hope you don't mind some fan mail. I received a very lovely poem from you yesterday and somehow you reached in to my mind and saw and put into mixed verse so many thoughts and feelings I'd been ruminating on about Arlington and my children. I don't know if it's your empathy or just complete coincidence, but the poem was completely right-place and right-time. Wishing you all the best - and with gratitude-

This was from Harald, a library patron who requested I write him a poem about transience.

The poems I write during this event are composed in just a few minutes. I don’t edit them or give them more than a quick read-over. I jot them down, and then rewrite them on the nice paper the library provides. They are usually relatively light-hearted and don’t touch on many of the heavier topics I usually write about. I never really expect much from them, so to get this email really made my day. It reminded me that words matter and that my words mattered to that person. And that’s a wonderful feeling.

You can read Courtney's original blog post, and find out more about her poetry, on her website. 

The Poet was IN!

Emily and Frankie at Shirlington
BigSlim and Katherine at Central
Sli'imothy and Courtney

You can catch poets Emily, Frankie, Sll'im, Courtney and Katherine online, at the Library, and around Arlington County.

April 24, 2018 by Web Editor

Filed Under: App, News

Primary Sidebar

News

John Robinson receiving an award.

John Robinson: Taking a Stand

John Robinson John Robinson (1934-2010) was a … ... about John Robinson: Taking a Stand

Read More News

Service Updates

graphic of gear and wrench on blue background

ALERT: Scheduled Library System Downtime Wednesday, Jan. 13 Starting at 7 p.m.

On Wednesday, January 13 at 7 p.m. the Library … ... about ALERT: Scheduled Library System Downtime Wednesday, Jan. 13 Starting at 7 p.m.

See More Service Updates

Quaranzine

Hillary Williams, Sunset Bridge

The Best of Quaranzine

Hats Off to Our Quaranzine Community We began … ... about The Best of Quaranzine

More Quaranzine

Director’s Blog

Photo of hand written notes of a book list.

The Library Director’s 2020 Book List, Continued

Reading in a Pandemic In late December … ... about The Library Director’s 2020 Book List, Continued

More Director's Blog

Center for Local History

John Robinson receiving an award.

John Robinson: Taking a Stand

John Robinson John Robinson (1934-2010) was a … ... about John Robinson: Taking a Stand

Read More Local History

Recent Comments

  • Melissa Sprott on HOLIDAY CLOSINGS: The Library will be closed January 1
  • Web Editor on The Top Books of 2020
  • Web Editor on The Top Books of 2020

Footer

Explore

  • Catalog
  • eCollection
  • Research
  • Services
  • Kids and Teens
  • Local History
  • Events
  • more

About Us

  • Mission & Vision
  • Policies
  • Library Administration
  • Job Opportunities
  • For Partners
  • News Room

Support Your Library

  • Friends of the Library
  • Giving Opportunities
  • Donating Materials
  • Volunteer Opportunities

Our Mission

We champion the power of stories, information and ideas.

We create space for culture and connection.

We embrace inclusion and diverse points of view.

Download the Library App

Arlington County | Terms & Conditions | <!-- Accessibility | --> Site Map
· Copyright © 2021 Arlington County Government ·