Edward Ahern, Words at Play

Poetry is a labor of love, and sharing poetry is a gesture of affection for its readers and listeners. The Connecticut Poetry Society’s Wilton workshop goes back at least thirty years, starting in a Borders bookshop.

The bookshop threw the group out as too disruptive in discussing poetry and politics, and it migrated through Barnes & Noble, Fairfield University and, for many years now, the Wilton Library.

This little book, compiled from fifteen Connecticut poets, lets readers listen in on our rowdy sessions. You’ll have to imagine the banter and byplay, but the poems express their emotions pretty well.

There have been four moderators — Guss Stepp, Sherman Poultney, Ray Rauth, and Ed Ahern — and hundreds of members, many of whom went on to publish their own poetry books. The group meets in person at the Wilton Library from 2-4 p.m. on the third Saturday of every month. Feel free to join us.