Local poet John Palen reads from his new book of poetry.
As the planet tilts toward spring, come and celebrate life's surprises with a reading by John Palen from his new chapbook of poems, Strange and Wonderful Creatures. Anchored by the poet’s responses to paintings by Pablo Picasso, the book explores such issues as family, work, love, music, and a broken world in need of repair. Just out from Sheila-Na-Gig Editions, the book will be available for purchase and signing.
Strange and Wonderful Creatures is John’s ninth book. He has been publishing poems for more than 50 years in such journals as Prairie Schooner, Poetry Northwest, and Cider Press Review. A retired college professor and an Urbana resident since 2011, he leads a poetry writing study group at Osher Lifetime Learning Institute. He likes to garden, make things out of wood, and go for long walks in four seasons under the trees in his neighborhood.
Conveniently located at the corner of Race and Green in downtown Urbana.
