February 2021
Poets & Patrons member Gail Goepfert is an ardent poet, photographer, and teacher. Currently, she’s an associate editor of RHINO Poetry and teaches classes online at National Louis University. Her story spans the Midwest in locations between the Mississippi River and northern Ohio, but her passion for travel is endless.
When did you begin writing poetry?
Probably my earliest connection with poetry was a “Poetry” project in eighth grade — Mr. Semones. We studied poets, dissected them, and responded to them. I still have the tattered remains of that project. I recall writing occasional poems over many years. The earliest was for my grandfather who was one of my favorite people ever and who died from black lung disease… Read more ⟶
Desperate Beauty
Poets & Patrons is a nonprofit organization dedicated to
supporting poetry development
in the Chicagoland area.
Wilda Morris © 2017
Introduction
Wilda Morris © 2017
Poets & Patrons was founded in 1954. It is dedicated to supporting poetry development in the Chicagoland area. It does this through sponsoring and hosting congenial, professional workshops at The Harold Washington Library; running an annual Chicagoland Poetry Contest with modest cash awards for multiple categories; facilitating free writing workshops at area museums and outdoor venues (Write! Chicago); and an annual Awards Ceremony. Poets & Patrons is an excellent vehicle for defining your work, meeting with other fine poets for unique critiques, and exploring with others the power of well-crafted verse.
We meet in workshops four times a year and have started a series of meetings called Write! Chicago, where poets gather in a specific Chicago location and write afterwards. The workshops are designed to increase skill in writing both traditional and non-traditional poetry. We also sponsor 2 contests each year. Please see our Contest page for more information.
Unless otherwise noted, the workshops will be in room 6-N on the third floor of the Harold Washington Library, 400 S. State Street, Chicago, Illinois.
Poets & Patrons evolved from a common desire to promote a meeting ground for poets and poet enthusiasts in the Chicago area. Learn more ⟶