The third year of the Dickinson Poetry Series, 2011-2012, recently concluded and some of the poems read in the series have once again been collected in a chapbook. The title of the new book is Harvest.

Harvest will be officially released at a gala celebration party on April 8 following the Sunday morning service in which 10 poets will read. The party and the service will precede by a few days the April 11 opening reading of the 2012-2013 Dickinson series by Barbara Larsen, Poet Laureate of Door County. These events are open to the public and are part of the Door County activities to commemorate National Poetry Month. The gala will include refreshments, music, impromptu readings of poems by their authors, and the opportunity for poets to autograph their pages in the books that have been purchased. The cost of the book is $10 and it will be available at poetry events county-wide and state-wide and at UUFDC events.

This book includes 27 poems by 17 poets, including seven youth poets. The title reminds us that good poetry is a harvest in two ways. First, the poet harvests thoughts, images, feelings, and insights. Then the reader/listener harvests the words to enliven and shed light on her/his own experience. Both of these processes enrich the lives of those who engage with poetry. The title is that of one of the poems by Cathryn Cofell, included in the book. The poets featured are Francha Barnard, Norbert Blei, Brandon Bogenschutz, Hope Bogenschutz, Katie Buske, David Clowers, Cathryn Cofell, Bruce Dethlefsen, Edward Dimaio, Anya Kopischke, Marybeth Mattson, Alicia Mickelson, June Nirschl, Judy Roy, Taylor Syers, Henry Timm, and Jasper Whalen. The poems reflect on the local scene, travel, language, social issues, nature, and human interactions — subjects with a long history in poetry.

The publication of Volume III confirms UUFDC’s plan to continue publishing a book of the Dickinson Series poems annually.