*

Mary Buchinger Bodwell, president of the New England Poetry, published her first poem in Somerville’s literary magazine Ibbetson Street. Robert Pinsky (former U.S. Poet) and Mike Ansara (founder of the Massachusetts Poetry Festival) have used adjectives like “impressive” and “distinguished” in describing this literary journal. Sam Cornish (former Boston Poet Laureate) opined about the press, “Ibbetson Press books are as varied and more provocative than most publications of poetry.”

The press, founded by Doug Holder, Richard Wilhelm, and Dianne Robitaille in 1998 will be having it’s 20th Anniversary Reading at the Central Branch of the Somerville Public Library on Thursday, February 22.

Now affiliated with Endicott College, Ibbetson Street has highlighted emerging poets as well as established poets like Afaa Michael Weaver, Ted Kooser, Marge Piercy, Andrea Cohen, Jean Valentine, Brendan Galvin, Cornelius Eady, and many more. It has also has published over 100 books of poetry and memoirs. In addition, it has started a Young Poet Series at Endicott College that publishes the work of talented undergraduates. The potluck supper will start at 6:00 p.m., and the reading at 7:00 p.m. Hope to see you there.