poetryHickory – Poetry Hickory will host the 4th annual Kakalak All-Star Poetry Celebration as its next monthly reading at 7:00 PM on March 14 at Taste Full Beans Coffeehouse.

Featured readers will include Joyce Compton Brown of Troutman, Professor Emeritus at Gardner-Webb University, and author of the poetry collection, “Bequest;” David Radavich of Charlotte, author of 3 collections of poetry and president of the NC Poetry Society; Helen Losse of Winston-Salem, author of 6 collections of poetry and Assistant Editor of “Kentucky Review;” Jane Shlensky of Bahama, author of “Barefoot on Gravel;” Katelyn Vause of Richlands, Lenoir Rhyne creative writing student and Assistant Editor of “Wild Goose Poetry Review;”  Lynn Santy Tanner, author of 3 collections of poetry; and Beverly Finney and Douglas McHargue of Hickory, frequent contributors to Poetry Hickory and the Art of Poetry at the Hickory Museum of Art; Douglas McHargue.

Kakalak, a journal of poetry and art by and for the poets and artists of North and South Carolina, was founded in 2005 by editors Lisa Zerkle, Richard Allen Taylor and Beth Ann Cagle.

Poetry Hickory is a 12-year-old monthly reading series coordinated by Hickory poet and Lenoir Rhyne professor, Scott Owens. All events are hosted by Taste Full Beans Coffeehouse in downtown Hickory and are free and open to the public. The Kakalak reading will be followed by an Open Mic. For more information, contact Scott Owens at 828-234-4266.