04/03/2008: "Wa State Poet Laureate At FH Library Friday"

Washington State’s first poet laureate, Sam Green, will give a reading at the San Juan Island Library April 4 at 6:30 p.m. Green is the is the author of ten poetry collections. His latest book is "The Grace of Necessity," published in 2008 by Carnegie Mellon University Press. The collection explores themes of death, paying attention to detail, and love and work in the world.

Green uses the technique of “postcard” poems—short epistles written to friends—to compose drafts of his work. He composes with pen and paper, but he allows the revision process to include the use of word processing on a computer. “I need to feel with my body,” he says of the writing process.
Green studied poetry at Highline Community College, Western Washington University and the University of Washington, and has been writing and teaching poetry for more than 30 years. He teaches at workshops and in college settings, and is currently teaching at Seattle University.

Green’s books are available at Griffin Bay Book Store, and the Griffin Bay Book Store will also be selling books for the poet to sign at the library reading on April 4.

Sam Green and his wife Sally have lived on Waldron Island for twenty-five years, where they run Brooding Heron Press, a letterpress printing company that focuses on printing poetry. Green is an expert bookbinder.

The poetry reading is open to the public, free of charge.