The Bookstock Festival in Woodstock!

Poetry at Bookstock 2025

Presenting poetry from notable and provocative poets has been part of
Bookstock since the beginning — and this year’s festival has plenty to offer
poetry lovers.

Bookstock opens opens with a poetry performance by Bimpé Fageyinbo on May 16;
features a reading by Robert Pinsky on May 17; and spotlights poets Chard
deNiord, Didi Jackson, Major Jackson, and Alison Prine at our Poetry Festival
on May 18. Plus you can have a poem custom written for you by Poet For Hire
Ben Aleshire and join Bimpé Fageyinbo’s workshop The Art of Poetic
Conversation on May 18. Bookstock is a free event; you do need a ticket for
the readings and the Bookstock Poetry Festival.

Here’s information about the poets and when and where you’ll find them:

BEN ALESHIRE, a Vermonter by birth, travels the world with his Olivetti
typewriter as the 'Poet for Hire’ and composes poems to order for strangers.
(May 16, 1-5 pm; 17, 10-5 pm; 18, 10-1 pm; The Green, Woodstock)

CHARD deNIORD is the author of nine books of poetry and served as poet
laureate of Vermont from 2015 to 2019. (Bookstock Poetry Festival, May 18,
10:30 am, The Little Theater, Woodstock)

BIMPE FAGEYINBO is a Nigerian artist who weaves poetry, film, prose, and
documentary photography into her work to explore humankind’s profound inner
questions. She’s part of Bookstock’s Opening Night
(https://bookstockvt.org/session/opening-event/) (May 16, 6:30 pm; Artistree,
Pomfret) and leads a workshop on The Art of Poetic Conversation
(https://bookstockvt.org/session/poetic-conversation/), for which we charge a
small fee. (May 18, 1 pm; The Little Theater, Woodstock)

DIDI JACKSON, a recipient of the Poetry Society of America’s Robert H. Winner
Memorial Award. has published in in major poetry journals, including The New
Yorker, and in two collections. (Bookstock Poetry Festival, May 18, 10:30 am;
The Little Theater, Woodstock)

MAJOR JACKSON, the author of six volumes of poetry, has won many major awards
for his work, including a Pushcart Prize. He is poetry editor of the Harvard
Review. (Bookstock Poetry Festival, May 18, 10:30 am; The Little Theater,
Woodstock)

ROBERT PINSKY was the Poet Laureate of the United States from 1997 to 2000.
His many honors include The Lifetime Achievement Award from the PEN American
Center. (May 17, 11 am; St. James Church, Woodstock)

ALISON PRINE’s latest collection of poems won the 2023 Sappho’s Prize in
Poetry. Her debut collection was a finalist for the 2017 Vermont Book Award.
(Bookstock Poetry Festival, May 18, 10:30 am, The Little Theater, Woodstock)

Get tickets, schedule, and more info:
https://bookstockvt.org/bookstock-poetry/ (you’ll need a free ticket for
readings and the Bookstock Poetry Festival)

What else does Bookstock offer? Lots: our famous book sale of almost-new and
charmingly old volumes; a poetry festival; hands-on workshops; author readings
and presentations; events for children; great food; and many more festivities.
To keep up to date, subscribe for our email updates
(https://bookstockvt.org/subscribe/); email us (info@bookstockvt.org
<info@bookstockvt.org>); or follow us on Instagram (@bookstockvt).