WNP to feature Hayes, Christmas program
This week’s Wednesday Night Poetry will feature a special Christmas program presented by North Little Rock poet Karen Hayes and friends at Kollective Coffee+Tea, 110 Central Ave.
The regular open mic session for all poets will begin at 6:30 p.m. and the 30-minute Christmas program will begin at 7 p.m., followed by another open mic. Admission is free and open to all ages.
An alumna of the Writers Colony at Dairy Hollow in Eureka Springs, Hayes is known throughout central Arkansas for her Dogtown Poetry on Demand. Using her 1971 manual Olivetti typewriter, she writes poems for people on the spot at events like the Hot Springs Farmers Market and the monthly Argenta Art Walk in North Little Rock, a news release said.
Hayes also is an Alzheimer’s Poetry Project facilitator. APP uses poetry to connect with people living with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementia. Her husband of 29 years succumbed to Alzheimer’s in September 2014. The first time she read her poetry in public was the night before her husband’s funeral. “I did a lot of writing while he was sick,” Hayes said in the release. “I had to let some of it out. I knew he’d approve.”
Although some of her poetry is about her experience with Alzheimer’s, the audience shouldn’t expect to hear any of that poetry at this event. “My feature this week will be all about Christmas and nothing but Christmas,” she said. Assisting her with the presentation of an audience participation piece will be hula hoopers Gin Hartnett and Alice Guffey Miller. Hayes will also present a reader’s theater version of “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” with help from Barbara Raney of the Greasy Greens and Mark Hotchkiss from the Little Rock Library.
It has been a long-standing tradition at Wednesday Night Poetry to pass the hat following the feature, with the proceeds going to the feature poet. This week, donations from the hat will be donated to The Ida Lee Project. “The founder is my friend from our Hot Springs High School days, Dr. Ravonna Martin,” said Hayes. “She is the first and only dedicated women’s health practitioner in Kisangani, Democratic Republic of the Congo.” This past summer and fall the tips that Hayes has made with Poetry on Demand have been going to ILP. “I’m hoping to be able to cap off the year with a good donation,” she said.