Columbia, SC—Join the Richland County Public Library and South Carolina Poetry Initiative for a four-part poetry series featuring award winning poets and a multitude of voices from around South Carolina.

The series kicks off with Kwame Dawes, Phillip Belcher, Therese Gleason and Karen M. Peluso at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, March 11 at the Main Library in downtown Columbia.

Kwame Dawes influences lie in the rhythms and textures of Jamaica. In addition to his book Bob Marley: Lyrical Genius, which remains the most authoritative study of the lyrics of Bob Marley, he has written 13 books of poetry and produced 20 of his plays.  He is Distinguished Poet in Residence, Louis Frye Scudder Professor of Liberal Arts and Founder and Executive Director of the South Carolina Poetry Initiative. He is the Director of the University of South Carolina Arts Institute and the Programming Director of Jamaica’s Calabash International Literary Festival.  

The series continues with appearances by:
Marjory Wentworth, Michael S. Begnal, Ed Madden and Julia Koets at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, March 18; 

Ray McManus, Michele Reese, Gilbert Allen and Jonathan Maricle at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, March 25; and Susan Meyers, Laurel Blossom, Steve Gardner, Sarah Newman and Bhavin Tailor at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, April 1. 

RCPL and the South Carolina Poetry Initiative will also host Movin’ with Poetry, a special hands-on workshop for children ages eight through 12, from 10 – 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, March 29 in the Children’s Room of the Main Library. 

For additional information on A Cabaret of Words or Movin’ with Poetry, visit www.myRCPL.com or call 988-0886.