Bookshop to give poets the floor

Dee Jaee McLean from Atlantis Bookshop. Photo / Ben Fraser

Fancy yourself as a bit of a poet or do you enjoy a rhyme or two?

Head down to your local bookstore tonight to celebrate National Poetry Day.

Poetry lovers will be spoiled for choice with more than 60 events being held nationwide to celebrate Poetry Day.

Atlantis Bookshop is holding its first open mic and poetry reading event to mark the annual celebration.

The performances start at 5.30pm and the bookshop's managing director Greg Price said everyone was welcome to come and listen or share their own work.

Mr Price said the Mad Poets Society were looking for a more comfortable environment to perform when they approached Atlantis. "We are providing them with a commercial platform to present their wares because in the end, they are wanting to sell what they have to offer, like any writer."

Writers from the Rotorua Mad Poets Society will be performing their own work and that of famous poets.

"We are very keen to have the Mad Poets Society perform at our store and we like to be able to support our local authors as much as we can," he said.

The celebrations are free and the store will remain open during the presentations.

Details

What: Open mic and poetry reading
Where: Atlantis Bookshop
WHEN: Tonight from 5.30pm
Cost: Free