When Ken Nye began writing poetry at age 62, his first poem celebrated the birthday of his wife, Ann. He will read his poems at the second annual Hugh Ogden Memorial Evening of Poetry on Sunday, Aug. 10, at the Ecopelagicon Nature Store.

Evening of poetry to honor Hugh Ogden

RANGELEY – Lovers of poetry will gather at 6 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 10, on the lawn of the Ecopelagicon Nature Store, 7 Pond St., to honor poet Hugh Ogden (1937-2006). Ken Nye of Freeport, the evening’s featured poet, will read from his award-winning work. Admission is free, and refreshments will be served.

Members of the Ogden family will begin the evening by reading poems written by their father. Community members are invited to read a poem of his or one of their own that attends to what meant so much to Ogden: the beauty and mystery of the world, especially Rangeley, and peace among all living things.

A sign-up sheet will be available at the start of the evening, since time will be limited.

During the second part of the evening, Nye will read from “Searching for the Spring: Poetic Reflections of Maine” (2005) and “From the Heart: Poetic Reflections on Growing Old in Maine” (2007).

Retired from a 42-year career in public education, including a professorship in educational leadership at the University of Southern Maine, Nye began writing poetry at 62.

In his poems, he attends to family and friends and to the landscapes of Maine, including the natural world of his camp on Androscoggin Lake. In 2008, “From the Heart” was selected by the Maine Literary Awards Committee as the recipient of the Best Self-Published Book in Maine Award.

“I’m honored to be the first featured poet in this series that pays tribute to Hugh Ogden,” Nye said, “and I’m looking forward to being back in Rangeley.”

Organizers of the event hope to continue the August evenings of poetry and invite poets to Rangeley each summer in honor of Hugh Ogden.

Rangeley, its natural beauty and its people, fill Ogden’s seven books of poetry, especially “Two Roads” and “Bringing a Fir Straight Down” and his latest, “Turtle Island Tree Psalms.”

Ogden first came to Rangeley in 1975, and he built a camp on what he called “The Island,” near Narramantic Island. Ogden taught poetry at Trinity College from 1967 until his death.

For more information, call Peggy Yocum at 864-3421.