FORT KENT, Maine – University of Maine at Fort Kent Professor of English and Creative Writing Geraldine Cannon Becker has been invited to be the lecturer for the official opening of the annual Poetry Downtown Festival on September 27 in Boston.
In its fourth year, Poetry Downtown will pay tribute to Edgar Allan Poe by starting the multi-city festival in the place of the renowned poet’s birth.
Professor Cannon Becker’s lecture is titled “Literacy Through Poetry” and will be held at the Boston Public Library on September 27 from 1-2 pm.
According to the Poetry Downtown Festival website, “Professor Becker will delve into the vital role poetry can play in combating illiteracy. Drawing on her extensive experience as both an educator and a poet, she will share her insights into how the rhythm, structure, and emotional resonance of poetry can engage learners of all ages, fostering a love for reading and writing that transcends traditional educational barriers.”
In addition to the lecture, UMFK faculty were among those selected by a panel of judges to be published in a limited-edition anthology of works that will be presented at the end of each day of the festival. Their works include “The Cat’s Meow” by Geraldine Cannon and “A Broken Wing Casts a Dark Shadow” by Jessica Boynton, English adjunct at UMFK.
The day in Boston will end with poetry readings of the poems included in the anthology and if time allows, the poets may read other selections of their work. Professor of English Dr. Joseph Becker has also been invited to perform a reading of Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Raven.”
The series will continue September 28-29 in New York, Philadelphia and it will appropriately end in Baltimore, Poe’s final resting place.
Professor Cannon Becker’s lecture is free to attend. To ensure you have a seat, please register at:https://poetrydowntown.com/literacy-through-poetry/#page-content.
