Thursday, Apr 24, 2025 at 10:00am
Denice Frohman headlines the Blackbird Poetry Festival at Howard Community College (HCC). Now in its 17th consecutive year, the festival is a day devoted to verse, presented in partnership between HoCoPoLitSo and HCC, and including a student workshop, multiple poetry readings, HCC’s poetry patrol, a recording session of HoCoPoLitSo’s writer-to-writer talk show The Writing Life, a reading from the Howard County Poet Laureate Truth Thomas, and much more.
The event starts moving at the 11 a.m. Morning Songs Writing Workshop in the Kittleman Room of Duncan Hall (DH-100), hosted by HoCoPoLitSo’s current Bauder Writer-in-Residence, Tope Folarin. The 2 p.m. Sunbird Reading features a reading by guest artist Denice Frohman, followed by a poetry open mic for local authors of all ages. Attendance is free and open to the public, while seating lasts; current HCC students may find college registration links on the college event page.
Finally, the festival culminates its daylong celebration of poetry with the Nightbird Reading, in the Rouse Company Foundation Student Services Hall top floor suite (RCF-400): seating starts at 6:30 p.m. for the 7 p.m. performance. Nightbird will feature Denice Frohman; Tope Folarin; and Truth Thomas, with a reception, book sale and signing to follow the reading. Nightbird this year is offered free to the public, but we ask that guests planning to attend Nightbird RSVP in advance to ensure adequate seating is available.
Festival Events
Poetry Police : 10 a.m. – 11:30 a.m., campus-wide
To celebrate National Poem in Your Pocket Day, HCC seeks volunteers for the Poetry Police Force. Poetry Police will roam the halls and outdoor spaces distributing rewards and (poetry) citations to encourage reading and sharing of poetry. Poetry Police receive an official festival t-shirt. To volunteer for a shift or for more information, contact our Poetry Police Captain Rick Leith at [email protected].
Morning Songs Workshop : 11 a.m. – 12:15 p.m., Kittleman Room in Duncan Hall, Room DH-100
HoCoPoLitSo’s Bauder Writer-in-Residence for the 2024–2025 academic year, Tope Folarin, presents this morning workshop. Participants should come prepared to write. For more information, contact Tara Hart or Brian Martin.
Sunbird Reading : 2 p.m. – 3:30 p.m., Kittleman Room in Duncan Hall, Room DH-100
Denice Frohman will be joined by students, faculty, staff, and community members for an afternoon of poetry. This event is free and open to the public. After the scheduled readings, there will be an opportunity to share your own poem during our open mic session. For more information, contact Tara Hart or Brian Martin.
Nightbird Reading : 7 p.m. – 8:30 p.m., Rouse Company Foundation Student Services Hall, Room RCF-400
The day-long celebration of poetry culminates at the Nightbird Reading in the Rouse Company Foundation Student Services Hall top floor suite (RCF-400): seating starts at 6:30 p.m. for the 7 p.m. performance. Nightbird will feature Denice Frohman; Tope Folarin; and Truth Thomas, with a reception, book sale and signing to follow the reading.
