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Ode to Vernon – Leon H. Washington Jr. Memorial Branch Library

libraries get more beautiful
when the tables are full
and patrons must lower
proximity bubbles
to find a space to work
like jostling for a bus seat
on the express home

like when a group with disabilities
occupies half the tables
with smiles / concentration
the safety of others
or a teacher with exit tickets
fanned out and her additions
to a lesson-plan binder

and the hushed paper-whispers
key-clicks / zipper-chomps
mix / mix / mix to become
unshushable—which is not
a thing at some libraries—
when the tables are full
it means that we need

and provide room for each other
woolf asked for one with a lock
and walking-around money
to hide or bug out // we provide
each other a section of table
computer / printer / wifi
and reading / but only you
bring the walls or the card
@lapubliclibrary is stamping catalog cards at and of each branch. Collect them all! #libraries #poetry

On Wednesday, May 6, 4:10pm PT, Lynne Thompson will be reading with Mira Rosenthal at Cal Poly in the Writers-at-Work Reading series, hosted by Perugia sister L.I. Henley. The readings will be followed by a Q & A with the poets. Email lihenley@calpoly.edu for details. @lihenleyart @letpms @boaeditions @mirarosenthalpoet @upittpress @calpoly

I am grateful for everything that I have andeverything that I am😊😛

I am grateful for everything that I have andeverything that I am😊😛

I am grateful for everything that I have andeverything that I am😊😛

I am grateful for everything that I have andeverything that I am😊😛

Still reeling from an incredible time in Santa Cruz, CA this past week. Abundant gratitude to organizers Nancy Miller Gomez, Lisa Allen Ortiz, and Farnaz Fatemi, and to the poetry community there for welcoming me and Perugia Press with such warmth and kindness. Here are pix from our reading on 4/9 at the Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History, which was the inspiration place for Lisa’s book, Guide to the Exhibit. Nancy was a fantastic emcee, and it was a joy to read with Perugia poets Lisa, Lynne Thompson, and Jen Siraganian and to talk about our press we love so much. Thank you also to Roxi, Kay & Vicky for pix, to the museum for hosting us, to Grace and Naomi for handling book sales, and to all who came to listen and connect through poetry. ♥️📚♥️ @cavankerrypress @perugiapress @santacruzmuseum @santacruzpoetry

Still reeling from an incredible time in Santa Cruz, CA this past week. Abundant gratitude to organizers Nancy Miller Gomez, Lisa Allen Ortiz, and Farnaz Fatemi, and to the poetry community there for welcoming me and Perugia Press with such warmth and kindness. Here are pix from our reading on 4/9 at the Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History, which was the inspiration place for Lisa’s book, Guide to the Exhibit. Nancy was a fantastic emcee, and it was a joy to read with Perugia poets Lisa, Lynne Thompson, and Jen Siraganian and to talk about our press we love so much. Thank you also to Roxi, Kay & Vicky for pix, to the museum for hosting us, to Grace and Naomi for handling book sales, and to all who came to listen and connect through poetry. ♥️📚♥️ @cavankerrypress @perugiapress @santacruzmuseum @santacruzpoetry

Still reeling from an incredible time in Santa Cruz, CA this past week. Abundant gratitude to organizers Nancy Miller Gomez, Lisa Allen Ortiz, and Farnaz Fatemi, and to the poetry community there for welcoming me and Perugia Press with such warmth and kindness. Here are pix from our reading on 4/9 at the Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History, which was the inspiration place for Lisa’s book, Guide to the Exhibit. Nancy was a fantastic emcee, and it was a joy to read with Perugia poets Lisa, Lynne Thompson, and Jen Siraganian and to talk about our press we love so much. Thank you also to Roxi, Kay & Vicky for pix, to the museum for hosting us, to Grace and Naomi for handling book sales, and to all who came to listen and connect through poetry. ♥️📚♥️ @cavankerrypress @perugiapress @santacruzmuseum @santacruzpoetry

Still reeling from an incredible time in Santa Cruz, CA this past week. Abundant gratitude to organizers Nancy Miller Gomez, Lisa Allen Ortiz, and Farnaz Fatemi, and to the poetry community there for welcoming me and Perugia Press with such warmth and kindness. Here are pix from our reading on 4/9 at the Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History, which was the inspiration place for Lisa’s book, Guide to the Exhibit. Nancy was a fantastic emcee, and it was a joy to read with Perugia poets Lisa, Lynne Thompson, and Jen Siraganian and to talk about our press we love so much. Thank you also to Roxi, Kay & Vicky for pix, to the museum for hosting us, to Grace and Naomi for handling book sales, and to all who came to listen and connect through poetry. ♥️📚♥️ @cavankerrypress @perugiapress @santacruzmuseum @santacruzpoetry

Still reeling from an incredible time in Santa Cruz, CA this past week. Abundant gratitude to organizers Nancy Miller Gomez, Lisa Allen Ortiz, and Farnaz Fatemi, and to the poetry community there for welcoming me and Perugia Press with such warmth and kindness. Here are pix from our reading on 4/9 at the Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History, which was the inspiration place for Lisa’s book, Guide to the Exhibit. Nancy was a fantastic emcee, and it was a joy to read with Perugia poets Lisa, Lynne Thompson, and Jen Siraganian and to talk about our press we love so much. Thank you also to Roxi, Kay & Vicky for pix, to the museum for hosting us, to Grace and Naomi for handling book sales, and to all who came to listen and connect through poetry. ♥️📚♥️ @cavankerrypress @perugiapress @santacruzmuseum @santacruzpoetry

Still reeling from an incredible time in Santa Cruz, CA this past week. Abundant gratitude to organizers Nancy Miller Gomez, Lisa Allen Ortiz, and Farnaz Fatemi, and to the poetry community there for welcoming me and Perugia Press with such warmth and kindness. Here are pix from our reading on 4/9 at the Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History, which was the inspiration place for Lisa’s book, Guide to the Exhibit. Nancy was a fantastic emcee, and it was a joy to read with Perugia poets Lisa, Lynne Thompson, and Jen Siraganian and to talk about our press we love so much. Thank you also to Roxi, Kay & Vicky for pix, to the museum for hosting us, to Grace and Naomi for handling book sales, and to all who came to listen and connect through poetry. ♥️📚♥️ @cavankerrypress @perugiapress @santacruzmuseum @santacruzpoetry

Still reeling from an incredible time in Santa Cruz, CA this past week. Abundant gratitude to organizers Nancy Miller Gomez, Lisa Allen Ortiz, and Farnaz Fatemi, and to the poetry community there for welcoming me and Perugia Press with such warmth and kindness. Here are pix from our reading on 4/9 at the Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History, which was the inspiration place for Lisa’s book, Guide to the Exhibit. Nancy was a fantastic emcee, and it was a joy to read with Perugia poets Lisa, Lynne Thompson, and Jen Siraganian and to talk about our press we love so much. Thank you also to Roxi, Kay & Vicky for pix, to the museum for hosting us, to Grace and Naomi for handling book sales, and to all who came to listen and connect through poetry. ♥️📚♥️ @cavankerrypress @perugiapress @santacruzmuseum @santacruzpoetry

Still reeling from an incredible time in Santa Cruz, CA this past week. Abundant gratitude to organizers Nancy Miller Gomez, Lisa Allen Ortiz, and Farnaz Fatemi, and to the poetry community there for welcoming me and Perugia Press with such warmth and kindness. Here are pix from our reading on 4/9 at the Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History, which was the inspiration place for Lisa’s book, Guide to the Exhibit. Nancy was a fantastic emcee, and it was a joy to read with Perugia poets Lisa, Lynne Thompson, and Jen Siraganian and to talk about our press we love so much. Thank you also to Roxi, Kay & Vicky for pix, to the museum for hosting us, to Grace and Naomi for handling book sales, and to all who came to listen and connect through poetry. ♥️📚♥️ @cavankerrypress @perugiapress @santacruzmuseum @santacruzpoetry

Still reeling from an incredible time in Santa Cruz, CA this past week. Abundant gratitude to organizers Nancy Miller Gomez, Lisa Allen Ortiz, and Farnaz Fatemi, and to the poetry community there for welcoming me and Perugia Press with such warmth and kindness. Here are pix from our reading on 4/9 at the Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History, which was the inspiration place for Lisa’s book, Guide to the Exhibit. Nancy was a fantastic emcee, and it was a joy to read with Perugia poets Lisa, Lynne Thompson, and Jen Siraganian and to talk about our press we love so much. Thank you also to Roxi, Kay & Vicky for pix, to the museum for hosting us, to Grace and Naomi for handling book sales, and to all who came to listen and connect through poetry. ♥️📚♥️ @cavankerrypress @perugiapress @santacruzmuseum @santacruzpoetry

Still reeling from an incredible time in Santa Cruz, CA this past week. Abundant gratitude to organizers Nancy Miller Gomez, Lisa Allen Ortiz, and Farnaz Fatemi, and to the poetry community there for welcoming me and Perugia Press with such warmth and kindness. Here are pix from our reading on 4/9 at the Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History, which was the inspiration place for Lisa’s book, Guide to the Exhibit. Nancy was a fantastic emcee, and it was a joy to read with Perugia poets Lisa, Lynne Thompson, and Jen Siraganian and to talk about our press we love so much. Thank you also to Roxi, Kay & Vicky for pix, to the museum for hosting us, to Grace and Naomi for handling book sales, and to all who came to listen and connect through poetry. ♥️📚♥️ @cavankerrypress @perugiapress @santacruzmuseum @santacruzpoetry

Not just poetry—an experience. Thank you, Lyne Thompson.

On April 18, Lynne Thompson will be taking part in Catamaran Literary Reader’s celebration of the Catamaran Poetry Prize for West Coast Poets, featuring the 2025 winning poet Aaron Tyler Hand and poets Alison Turner, Brendan Constantine, and Michelle Bitting. @catamaranlit @letpms @aaronhandstagram @brendanconstantine @poemshaper

On Thursday, April 9, Perugia Press Editor/Director Rebecca Olander will be reading with Perugia poets Lisa Allen Ortiz (Guide to the Exhibit) and Lynne Thompson (Beg No Pardon) at the Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History! Please join us for a special evening at the place Ortiz’s Perugia book was inspired by, with these two incredible California poets and Olander, who will be visiting from Massachusetts to celebrate her new book Singing from the Deep End, from CavanKerry Press. Come listen to poetry, learn more about Perugia Press, and enjoy refreshments and a special pop-up display featuring Museum founder Laura Hecox’s historic scrapbooks. Many thanks to the Museum for hosting this event, and to Ortiz and current and former Santa Cruz Poets Laureate Nancy Miller Gomez and Farnaz Fatemi for helping to make this occasion possible. Register for free at the link in Perugia’s or Olander’s Linktrees. 🪸📚🌊 @santacruzmuseum @rholanderpoet @cavankerrypress #singingfromthedeepend @letpms #begnopardon @nancymillergomez @farnaz._.fatemi #lisaallenortiz #perugiapress

Lynne Thompson will be reading with Patricia Smith for Cecilia Woloch’s series on Sunday, March 22. 3pm ET / Noon PT / 8pm Paris. Free, but advanced registration required: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/06RStU6nSdG6qttyuglnow#/registration 🌟🌟🌟 @letpms @pswordwoman @ceciliawolochandfriends

Gratitude to CLMP for this beautiful reading list for Women’s History Month 2026, including Holli Carrell’s Apostasies and L. I. Henley’s Starshine Road. Check out all the incredible titles in the full list in our story, or on CLMP.org, such as Lynne Thompson’s latest from BOA and titles from two of the poets we’ve featured in our monthly BIWOC Spotlight. 💞📚💞 @clmporg @hollicarrell @lihenleyart @letpms @fightingw0rds @kwoyafagin #perugiapress #readwomen #clmp

It was such a joy-FULL AWP that we’ve only posted through Thursday so far! Here are our incredible poets Lynne Thompson, Nancy K. Pearson & Carolina Hotchandani during their author signings on Friday, plus a bonus Friday visit from our poet Joan Kwon Glass, who helped out at the table while our editor went to sign her own book over at CavanKerry Press. More evidence of joy to come (and more sleep - just got back to MA!). ♥️📚♥️ @letpms @nkpoet @carolinahotchandani @joan_kwon_glass @rholanderpoet @cavankerrypress #perugiapress #awp26

It was such a joy-FULL AWP that we’ve only posted through Thursday so far! Here are our incredible poets Lynne Thompson, Nancy K. Pearson & Carolina Hotchandani during their author signings on Friday, plus a bonus Friday visit from our poet Joan Kwon Glass, who helped out at the table while our editor went to sign her own book over at CavanKerry Press. More evidence of joy to come (and more sleep - just got back to MA!). ♥️📚♥️ @letpms @nkpoet @carolinahotchandani @joan_kwon_glass @rholanderpoet @cavankerrypress #perugiapress #awp26

It was such a joy-FULL AWP that we’ve only posted through Thursday so far! Here are our incredible poets Lynne Thompson, Nancy K. Pearson & Carolina Hotchandani during their author signings on Friday, plus a bonus Friday visit from our poet Joan Kwon Glass, who helped out at the table while our editor went to sign her own book over at CavanKerry Press. More evidence of joy to come (and more sleep - just got back to MA!). ♥️📚♥️ @letpms @nkpoet @carolinahotchandani @joan_kwon_glass @rholanderpoet @cavankerrypress #perugiapress #awp26

It was such a joy-FULL AWP that we’ve only posted through Thursday so far! Here are our incredible poets Lynne Thompson, Nancy K. Pearson & Carolina Hotchandani during their author signings on Friday, plus a bonus Friday visit from our poet Joan Kwon Glass, who helped out at the table while our editor went to sign her own book over at CavanKerry Press. More evidence of joy to come (and more sleep - just got back to MA!). ♥️📚♥️ @letpms @nkpoet @carolinahotchandani @joan_kwon_glass @rholanderpoet @cavankerrypress #perugiapress #awp26

It was such a joy-FULL AWP that we’ve only posted through Thursday so far! Here are our incredible poets Lynne Thompson, Nancy K. Pearson & Carolina Hotchandani during their author signings on Friday, plus a bonus Friday visit from our poet Joan Kwon Glass, who helped out at the table while our editor went to sign her own book over at CavanKerry Press. More evidence of joy to come (and more sleep - just got back to MA!). ♥️📚♥️ @letpms @nkpoet @carolinahotchandani @joan_kwon_glass @rholanderpoet @cavankerrypress #perugiapress #awp26

It was such a joy-FULL AWP that we’ve only posted through Thursday so far! Here are our incredible poets Lynne Thompson, Nancy K. Pearson & Carolina Hotchandani during their author signings on Friday, plus a bonus Friday visit from our poet Joan Kwon Glass, who helped out at the table while our editor went to sign her own book over at CavanKerry Press. More evidence of joy to come (and more sleep - just got back to MA!). ♥️📚♥️ @letpms @nkpoet @carolinahotchandani @joan_kwon_glass @rholanderpoet @cavankerrypress #perugiapress #awp26

It was such a joy-FULL AWP that we’ve only posted through Thursday so far! Here are our incredible poets Lynne Thompson, Nancy K. Pearson & Carolina Hotchandani during their author signings on Friday, plus a bonus Friday visit from our poet Joan Kwon Glass, who helped out at the table while our editor went to sign her own book over at CavanKerry Press. More evidence of joy to come (and more sleep - just got back to MA!). ♥️📚♥️ @letpms @nkpoet @carolinahotchandani @joan_kwon_glass @rholanderpoet @cavankerrypress #perugiapress #awp26

Here are some slides to keep track of some of the amazing ways our press is representing at AWP 2026! You might also find them at other offsites if you are lucky, but do make sure to stop by our Table #833 to meet them and get a signed book, attend our collaborative offsite on Wednesday night, and check out the panel presentations they (and our editor) are participating in. Go Perugia community! 🌟📚🎉 @carolinahotchandani @letpms @nkpoet @abbyemurray @joan_kwon_glass @rholanderpoet @hollicarrell #perugiapress #awp26

Here are some slides to keep track of some of the amazing ways our press is representing at AWP 2026! You might also find them at other offsites if you are lucky, but do make sure to stop by our Table #833 to meet them and get a signed book, attend our collaborative offsite on Wednesday night, and check out the panel presentations they (and our editor) are participating in. Go Perugia community! 🌟📚🎉 @carolinahotchandani @letpms @nkpoet @abbyemurray @joan_kwon_glass @rholanderpoet @hollicarrell #perugiapress #awp26

Here are some slides to keep track of some of the amazing ways our press is representing at AWP 2026! You might also find them at other offsites if you are lucky, but do make sure to stop by our Table #833 to meet them and get a signed book, attend our collaborative offsite on Wednesday night, and check out the panel presentations they (and our editor) are participating in. Go Perugia community! 🌟📚🎉 @carolinahotchandani @letpms @nkpoet @abbyemurray @joan_kwon_glass @rholanderpoet @hollicarrell #perugiapress #awp26

Hope you’ll stop by Table # 833 at the AWP Bookfair and visit with Perugia Press and our poets. Lynne Thompson will be there on Friday, March 6 from 10:00-11:00. Don’t miss the chance to talk with our brilliant poets about their work! 🌟📚🌟 @letpms #begnopardon #awp26 #perugiapress