On April 12, The Port Jefferson Library hosted an Open Mic Poetry Night in celebration of National Poetry Month. Key guest readers included local, regional poets Kate Lamberg and Mindy Kronenberg.

Lamberg presented a selection of poems inspired by other great writers as well as her own dreams. This influence was present in her poems “1001 Gates”, “Birthday”, “Roads In Dreams” and “In The Middle”, which were inspired by Dante’s Inferno. A massage therapist by day, Lamberg does most of her writing in the fall and winter, which is represented in her poem entitled, “I Dreamt Of Wind Falling”.

Kronenberg, a professor at SUNY Empire State College and a published author in the Belleview Literary Review, then came on stage to explain how she enjoys writing about people.

“They inspire me,” said Kronenberg. “There are some things that you have to write about because you can’t make them up. ”

Her poems “Opening Night,” “Caretaker,” “Estate Sale,” “Slammed,” “A Guest” and “Tattoo” were filled with rich characters involved in a wide range of everyday, unexpected events that occur in regular places. With “Menagerie,” Kronenberg addressed her right to defend herself against an overly critical visitor that once came to visit her home. Kronenberg ended her portion of the evening by reading selections from her NPR inspired collection of poems, along with the darker, more personal piece, “Couture”.

This was followed by an open mic session packed with a supportive and respectful crowd of all ages.

Roberta Guzzone started off by reading poems inspired by her view on spirituality, politics and love. Titles of her work included, “A Cloud Cannot Put Out The Sun,” “With Love,” “Dreams” and “I Felt The Seasons Come And Go”.

Paul Lojeski took the podium next to read his sarcastic and humorous poems, “Temporary Outrage,” “A Growing Uncertainty,” “ A Bad Movie I Starred In,” “There’s Nothing On” and “On The Lighter Side”.

Retired math teacher Ruth Becker recited a poem that she had written 50 years ago. “Animal Malpractice” addressed the universal topic about animals disappearing due to human poaching. She continued to amuse the crowd with her other works “Earth day,” “Mother’s Prayer” and “When You Grow Up”.

Several Scraggy Hill school children were on hand to recite and perform their own uplifting poetry, covering more lighthearted subject matter such as waterfalls, the moon, puppies, their favorite books and of course, school.

Anne Brusca, a fan of iambic pentameter, recited work that was both personal and heartfelt, including “Strikeout Stroke”, a poem inspired by her own determination to overcome a serious stroke that she had suffered seven years ago. Her poems “Ice Cream Man,” “Butterfly,” “Utopia,” “Leprechaun,” and “Sandcastle” were also well received by the crowd.

The evening then closed with a poem by Alan Siris concerning the events of 911 and local favorite Russ Green’s short, humorous poem “Falafel.”

For more information on fun, live events at The Port Jefferson Library, visit their official website.Visit www.poets.org/npm/ for more information on how you can get involved in celebrating National Poetry Month.