The West End Poetry Festival is a weekend-long event held by Carrboro every year. It’s a chance for people of all ages, styles and races and ethnicities to come together and share the love of poetry.

The festival took place last weekend, and ended Saturday evening.

Every year, the festival has a theme. This year, the theme was poetry and healing.

“Poetry has always sort of been there as an interest point for maybe it’s something as specific as therapy or maybe it’s something, somebody dealing with loss or those diseases that could lead up to loss in that time.”

That’s Gideon Young. He’s a member of the Carolina African-American Writers’ Collective and the Haiku Society of America. He’s also a member of the Carrboro Poets Council. They’re the committee that plans the festival each year. He says healing can mean many things to many poets.

“We are in a process of healing as a society all the time, and poetry can bring us to those thoughtful places that help us move forward.”

The event included two featured poets. But it also provided an opportunity for many other poets to share their healing-themed work. Poet Susan Spalt is also a member of the Carrboro Poets Council. She says the council makes a point to include all types of poets.

“We try to focus on both new, emerging and very well-established poets.”

The event also included a poetry workshop, and a panel of six poets and one doctor to talk about poetry, and how it has affected each of their lives. Young says the best thing about the West End Poetry Festival is that it features something for everyone.

“It brings together so many people from all over the country, as well as different ages and different backgrounds. And I think everyone has a different meaning for what poetry can mean for them and that’s one of the magical things about poetry is that it can mean different things to different people in that moment.”

Related Stories
‹
Town of Carrboro Announces Dates and Lineups for Fall Arts Festivals
The schedule has been finalized for three popular arts festivals returning to Carrboro this fall. The Carrboro Music Festival will return for its opening night on Saturday, September 30 and a full day of outdoor concerts on Sunday, October 1. More than 100 acts will perform during the festival, and venues include Craftboro, Cat’s Cradle […]
Carrboro Looking for New Poet Laureate; Applications Open Now
As the term of current Carrboro Poet Laureate Fred Joiner enters its final months, the town government is seeking applicants to take up the role. The Town of Carrboro shared a release on Monday asking for applications to the position of poet laureate for a two-year term beginning on January 1, 2023. Joiner, who is […]
Carrboro Selects New Poet Laureate
Bringing the presence of poetry to Carrboro is a responsibility that few people officially hold. The Arts Committee just selected local award-winning poet Gary Phillips as the new Poet Laureate of Carrboro, where his role is to do just that. “Carrboro is very fortunate to have had Gary selected to serve as our Poet Laureate […]
A Dactylic Affair: West End Poetry Festival
The West End Poetry Festival runs through Saturday.
Endswell Funeral Home Expanding to Chapel Hill with Art Gallery, Memorial Space
Opening an art gallery is just the latest example of Endswell Funeral Home attempting to stand out from the traditional experience.
The Morning News: Carrboro Murder Victim Identified, UNC Football Gets Season-Opening Win
In today's news: Carrboro police identify the victim and arrest a suspect in a homicide that took place Thursday.
How OWASA's Reclaimed Water System Extends the Lifespan of Local Water Sources
Built 17 years ago to improve the community’s drinking water resilience, it has saved the county billions of gallons of drinking water. 
Carrboro: First Week of School, Remembering Jamezetta Bedford, Town Tree Health
Carrboro Mayor Barbara Foushee spoke with 97.9 The Hill's Andrew Stuckey on Friday, August 28, discussing town news and events. She talked about the first week of school in the community and recounted her participation in welcoming students to Northside Elementary. She also discussed last weekend's memorial service for late Orange County Commissioner Jamezetta Bedford, recounting key moments and takeaways from the celebration of her life. She outlined the work a tree expert is doing for the town in assessing tree health in public spaces around town, and more.
Scholarship Fund Established for Slain Former Carrboro High School Coach
The family of former Carrboro High School girls’ basketball coach and teacher Sheremy Dillard is setting up a memorial fund in her honor. Dillard was found stabbed to death in her Raleigh home Aug. 13. Her boyfriend, 60-year-old Rickey Harper, has since been charged with murder. Dillard had coached at Carrboro High from the time […]
Monet Richardson Community Foundation Announces Dissolution
The Monet Richardson Community Foundation is formally dissolving, executive director Pat Richardson announced Monday. The announcement comes as the foundation was celebrating its fifth anniversary. While this marks the closing of an important chapter, we choose to reflect on the many positive moments, relationships, and accomplishments that have defined the Foundation’s five years of service,” […]
›