BookStore1 and Florida Studio Theatre partner for the fourth installment of PoetryLife Weekend May 1-2 at FST with guest poets Billy Collins, the former U.S. poet laureate 2001-2003; Marie Howe, New York state poet laureate, 2012-2014; and Tracy K. Smith, winner of the Pulitzer Prize in poetry in 2012.

And, of course, your fellow community members.

“It’s one of the most moving experiences to see an eight-year-old girl reading Silverstein and giggling with all get out [as] she tells why she loves the poem, [contrasted with] an older man reading Chaucer in the most heartfelt and purposeful way,” says Kate Alexander, associate director of FST.

This year’s PoetryLife offers four events: the new Poetry Salon Luncheon, where audience members have the opportunity to speak candidly with the guest poets and the winners of PoetryLife’s Adult Division Writing Contest about writing; Live Onstage, an evening poetry reading and signing from the guest poets; the Young Voices Poetry Reading for students; and the Community Favorite Poem Reading.

“Poetry is so able to reflect our lives,” Georgia Court, owner of BookStore1, says, which is how the event got its name. “Every place is a good place for poetry, but it works particularly well here because teachers here have a real interest in poetry [and] see the value of it.”

Every year, middle and high school students are encouraged to submit to PoetryLife’s writing contest and the winners have the opportunity to share their work at the Young Voices Poetry Reading. The guest poets are on hand to provide insight to the students on how to hone the craft.

“Poetry teaches decision, precision and critical thinking,” Court says. She calls poetry formulaic; in the same way that students learn math or music scales, they are taught how to choose words that have the most impact.

“The entire community benefits from [PoetryLife],” Court says. “It helps the community connect with its creative side. We all have wonderful inner lives, and poetry helps us explore that.”

The event schedule for PoetryLife is available here. Submissions for the Community Favorite Poem Reading are open until tomorrow, April 3; applications are available at FST, BookStore1 or online here, or contact (941) 365-7900 or [email protected].