In conjunction with the 2024 Santa Barbara Poetry Month, and National Poetry Month in April, a poetry reading called Spirits in the Air: Potent Potable Poetry will be held 5:30-6:30 p.m. Monday, April 1 at The Good Lion, 1212 State St., Santa Barbara.
The reading, which has free admission and a no-host bar, marks the 10th anniversary of the event, two of which were held via Zoom due to Covid.
A group of invited poets will read their work, and the work of others, about libations of all sorts. The reading will be hosted by George Yatchisin, a local columnist and food writer and author of poetry volumes “Feast Days” and “The First Night We Thought the World Would End.”
Featured readers include Mary Brown, Christopher Buckley, Rebecca Horrigan, and former Santa Barbara poet laureates David Starkey, Emma Trelles and Chryss Yost.
“From Bacchus to Berryman, from Li Po to Dorothy Parker, drink and lyric flights have danced a long, sometimes loving, sometimes leery waltz,” Yatchisin said.
“This event will attest to the multi-faceted ways poets have found inspiration, solace, and yes, sometimes sickness in the bottle,” he said.
“Especially as the event turns 10, this reading makes clear just how fun poetry can be, and we all look forward to getting to celebrate Poetry Month together, with a delicious drink in hand,” Yatchisin said.