RUMFORD — The Friends of the Rumford Library launched its new Poetry Program on April 24. A spirited group of 14 poetry lovers met in the library’s public room to share their own work or the favorite works of others.

Librarian Susan Marshall welcomed the group and read the first poem of the evening, Robert Frost’s “Two Tramps in Mud Time.”

Participants unanimously agreed to continue the program. Meetings will be held monthly on the fourth Thursday of the month, at 5:30 p.m. The next meeting will be Thursday, May 22, at the library, and the June meeting will be on the 26th.

Rumford’s Jane MacFarlane, April Trenoweth and Ashley Duguay read poems they’d written, as did Mary Tyler of Gilead and Iris Roberts of Newry.

Gerry Boivin brought her father’s book of poems and stories. Jenn Cohen read from the collection of the late Kevin Nye, beloved Rumford high school principal, and Brenda Sassi read one of Jean McQuade’s works.

Other participants offered Emily Dickinson, Robert Frost, Dorothy Parker and Ogden Nash, among others.

Andy Beauchesne, then-president of the Rumford Library Friends, was a spirited participant in the first poetry event and one of its most enthusiastic supporters. Her family and her many, many friends in the River Valley community were grieving her sudden death on April 30. The Library Friends will be consulting with Andy’s family to find a fitting memorial for Andra.


Only subscribers are eligible to post comments. Please subscribe or login first for digital access. Here’s why.

Use the form below to reset your password. When you've submitted your account email, we will send an email with a reset code.

filed under: