June 16, 2010 Poetry and Literature Center Seeks Submissions for Poetry at Noon Series for 2010-2011

The Poetry and Literature Center at the Library of Congress is seeking submissions from poets who would like to read at the Poetry at Noon series for fall 2010 and spring 2011. Submissions must be postmarked by Thursday, July 15. For submission guidelines, visit this site.

Poetry at Noon programs are based on themes. The themed readings for the 2010-2011 literary season are: “Insider/Outsider Life Experiences” for November; “Decade One: Life in the First Decade of the 21st Century” for December; “Love Poems” for February; and “Reversals of Fortune” for March, according to Patricia Gray, head of the Poetry and Literature Center.

Poetry at Noon is a popular reading series that began in 1993 with a “Love Poems” reading for Valentine’s Day. The “Love Poems” theme continues each February, but themes for other months are new each season. The series was designed to feature themes as a way of attracting audience members who might not normally attend poetry readings but might be interested in the featured theme.

As many as three guest poets may be selected for each program, and guest poets read not only their own work, but also work by other poets—living or dead, classic to contemporary—on the theme for the reading. Honoraria and travel funds are not available for selected guest poets.

The Poetry and Literature Center administers both an evening reading series and the Poetry-at-Noon series. The center is the home of the Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry. Many of the nation's most eminent poets have served as Consultant in Poetry to the Library of Congress and, after the passage of Public Law 99 194 (Dec. 20, 1985), as Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry.