Fall in re: Verse

September – a month for harvest moons, back-to-school dances, gridiron action, and ... poetry? Apparently so, as the calendar became packed with events linked to the lyric art as soon as we passed Labor Day. On Sept. 3, the University of Texas Libraries, in partnership with UT Department of English, the New Writers Project, and the Michener Center for Writers, opened the UT Poetry Center in the Perry-Castañeda Library. Since, we've had a daylong celebration of the Chilean poet Nicanor Parra's centenary, a performance by UT slam team Spitshine Poetry, and a pair of Austin Poetry Slam's weekly slams at Spider House Ballroom. This week, choral ensemble Conspirare is presenting a program of music set to the verse of Pablo Neruda in Bates Recital Hall. Saturday brings the third annual Poems for Peace program, with local poets and actors reading verse in honor of the International Day of Peace [Full disclosure: I'm involved], and that same afternoon at 1:30pm, the Austin Poetry Society will hold its monthly meeting at the Yarborough Branch Library, where Ire'ne Lara Silva will talk on the intent and history of Flor de Nopal. Malvern Books will host an afternoon with poets Sarah Webb, Carol Hamilton, and David Meischen on Sunday, then on Wednesday offer another round of W. Joe Hoppe's Poetry Corner, this time with guest Lyman Grant. And the UT English Department is bringing the masterful Welsh poet Gwyneth Lewis to campus Tuesday, Sept. 30. That's the same day that local poet Carrie Fountain releases Instant Winner, the follow-up to her award-winning debut collection, Burn Lake. With all this verse in the air like so many falling leaves, it seemed fitting to see what's drifting our way.