The North Olympic Library System is inviting the community to celebrate National Poetry Month with Clallam County Poet Laureate Jaiden Dokken at a number of events throughout April.
Here are several upcoming opportunities to experience poetry and share poems on the Olympic Peninsula (for more information, visit nols.org/poet):
Poetry events
• Poetry Panel Reading — 6-8 p.m. Thursday, April 11, Locally Known Cowork, 112 W. Washington St
Join hosts S. Salazar and Dokken for recitations by a panel of local poets, a question-and-answer session and an opportunity to mingle and purchase their work. Bring own snacks and beverages to enjoy during the event; masking is highly encouraged by the event organizers.
• Spring Poetry Night — 6-8 p.m. Friday, April 26, in the mezzanine at Aldrich’s Market, 940 Lawrence St., Port Townsend
Enjoy live music and poetry during this free, all-ages event hosted by Port Townsend Poet Laureate Conner Bouchard-Roberts of Winter texts. Featured poets include Dokken, Finn Wilcox, Quenton Baker, Christina Vega, Kat Murphy, Amber Huntsman, Sasha taqʷš əblu LaPointe, Lisbeth White, and Cass Curl, with music by Marit Olivia. Hot drinks will be available from Conduit Coffee.
Haikus from Here
Clallam County community members are invited to submit their original poetry to the “Haikus from Here” project. Email a haiku poem — written in a 5-7-5 syllable count format — along with your name and city to poetlaureate@nols.org for an opportunity to be published in a zine created by Dokken.
Poetry walks
Explore poetry in the landscape along three Olympic National Park trails — Hall of Mosses, Madison Falls and Spruce Railroad — through May 31.
Photo courtesy of North Olympic Library System / “Shored” is one of two poems by Jaiden Dokken featured in Poetry Walks along trails in Olympic National Park through May 31.
Two of Dokken’s poems are newly on display this year.
Take-a-Poem, Leave-a-Poem
Stop by Hurricane Coffee, 104 W. Washington St., to read poetry written by community members on an interactive display created by Dokken. Participants can take a poem and use the writing supplies provided to leave a poem of their own in its place.
Community poetry opportunities
Email Dokken at poetlaureate@nols.org to request their participation at your community event and to collaborate on programs like poetry readings, workshops and interactive experiences.
Events with the Poet Laureate should be free and open to the public, with the exception of school or corrections facility visits.
About Dokken
Appointed in April 2023, Dokken became Clallam County’s first poet laureate. The North Olympic Library System, in partnership with Clallam County, created the position as a way to promote poetry in the community.
In their first year as poet laureate, Dokken has hosted nearly 30 events and programs across the county.
