Mike Orlock will take the Dickinson Poetry Series stage.

He describes his poetry as

“light verse with a topical twist.”

Mike Orlock retired to Sturgeon Bay in 2008 from a career in teaching and coaching in suburban Chicago. He enjoys travel, reading, writing, films, and spending time with his two sons (Chris and Nick) and five granddaughters (Kapri, Kayla, Rori, Rosie, and Addie Mae). He has been married since 1975 to his high school sweetheart Liz, who is his best critic and source of information and inspiration. For twelve years (1989 to 2001) he wrote film reviews for the Reporter-Progress newspapers in suburban Chicago and was a contributing member of the Chicago Film Critics Association. His short fiction has appeared in TriQuarterly, the literary journal of Northwestern University, and Another Chicago Magazine. He has twice been honored with Illinois Arts Council Awards for his short stories.

He came late to writing poetry, inspired by a course he took in Learning in Retirement taught by poet David Clowers in 2009. His work has appeared online in “Your Daily Poem”, the WFOP calendars, Verse Wisconsin, the Los Angeles Times, the Peninsula Pulse, Bramble, Soundings and various other venues, including the anthologies No More Can Fit Into the Evening and Seven By 7: The Door County Poet Laureates. He won the Wisconsin Writers Association “Jade Ring” award in 2014 and the Wisconsin Fellowship of Poets Muse Award in 2016. He has published five collections of poetry: You Can Get Here from There: Poems of Door County & Other Places; Poetry Apocalypse & Selected Verse; Mr. President! Poetry, Polemics & Fan Mail from Inside the Divide; Con(Verse)sations with Myself; and Toes, Toads, Tulips, & Turtles: A Miscellany of Verse.

He describes his poetry as “light verse with a topical twist.” and subjects include family, his dogs, travel, Door County, politics, word play, and poetry itself. “I like poems that are clever and accessible, profound in a funny or poignant way, and I try to write poems that are fun to read or think about.” In 2021, he was named the seventh Door County Poetry Laureate, and currently writes the “Mike at the Movies” column in the Peninsula Pulse.

About Dickinson Poetry Series: On the second Wednesday of every month the Dickinson Poetry Series features a renowned local or regional poet followed by an open mic, providing an opportunity for others to read their poetry. A reception follows affording an opportunity to meet the poets. The Series is named for Emily Dickinson, a prolific poet and philosophically in tune with Unitarian beliefs. The public is welcome and there is no charge. The Unitarian Universalist Fellowship is located at 10341 Hwy. 42 in north Ephraim. For more information call (920) 854-7559.