The 2009 Joaquin Miller Cabin Poetry Series has been announced and I am honored to be part of it. Since 1976, this poetry series has been part of the Washington literary scene. If you have ever wandered in Rock Creek Park, near Picnic Area 6, where Military Road passes over Beach Drive, you have likely seen the beautiful Miller Cabin. Joaquin Miller was a naturalist and poet, who built this cabin as a retreat for writing. You can read more about Miller and the history of this reading series at the Word Works website. Kathi Morrison-Taylor, Rosemary Winslow, and Deborah Ager are its co-directors.

The readings take place each Tuesday evening in June and July, at 7:30pm, just outside the Miller Cabin. Each reading has a featured poet and then a brief open-mic. A reception follows every reading at the Sixth Presbyterian Church at 5413 16th Street, NW. The church is also the rain site.

Here is this year’s series of poets:

June 9th    Deborah Bernhardt and Marcela Sulak

June 16th  Tyler Caroline Mills

                  Katherine Casey and  Baobao Zhang (winners of

                  the 2009 Jaclyn Potter Young Poets Prize)

June 23rd  Chris Goodrich and Nancy Krygowski

June 30th  Melanie Henderson and Luke Johnson

July 7th      April Lindner and Bonnie Naradzay

July 14th    George Drew and W. Luther Jett

July 21st    Cynthia Atkins and Dan Vera

July 28th    January Gill O’Neil, Joseph O. Legaspi, and       

                  Joseph Ross