Booklover’s Gourmet Double Poetry

Booklovers’ Gourmet in Webster, MA is pleased to present a Double Poetry Event featuring Curt
Curtin and John Gaumond, both accomplished Worcester area poets with newly released books. The
reading and signing will take place on Saturday, August 3 rd  at 3 p.m. and will be followed by an Open
Mic hosted by Paul Szlosek. To sign up to read for the Open Mic portion, please email
deb@bookloversgourmet.com or call 508-949-6232. Booklovers’ Gourmet is located at 72 East Main
Street in Webster, MA. The event is free and open to the public. Signed books will be available for
purchase.

Curt Curtin is a lifelong poet who has published six poetry collections: four for adults, one for young
adults, and one for young children. He’s also had many individual poems published in anthologies,
journals, and three chapbooks and has twice been nominated twice for a Pushcart prize. In 2010 he
received the first Frank O’Hara Poetry award from the Worcester County Poetry Association, and in
2019 he won second place in the annual contest of the Connecticut Poetry Society. In 2023 Curt won
grants from both the Worcester Arts Council and the Mass Cultural Council to support his work.
Curt taught college English and creative writing for 20 years at Westfield State College, MA, following
several years teaching younger students. He has been a featured reader in many poetry venues in
Massachusetts and New Hampshire, and twice in Ireland. Updates on his poetry can be found
at www.curtcurtinpoet.com.

This reading will feature poems from Curt’s latest collection, In Our Name.  The title comes from a
poem entitled, “Possibility” which opens: “In our name, We, the state, embrace war without a true
account of outcomes, naming only the sins of enemies, hiding our gains behind a wall of flags.” The
collection explores themes of violence, human suffering and the predatory forces of nature. While
sometimes difficult and painful to read, the poems offer hope for humanity—encouraging readers
to bear witness, become “compassionately wise,” and “set aside our ancient retributions.”

John Gaumond of Worcester, Massachusetts is a poet, photographer, gardener, and professor emeritus at Fitchburg State University. He received the Jacob Knight Poetry Award in 2006. His poems have been published in numerous journals, including Poets in the Galleries, The Connecticut River Review, Sahara, Worcester Magazine, The Longfellow Society Journal, The Leaflet, The Lancaster Times, The Issue, Ballard Street Poetry Journal, The Worcester Telegram and The Worcester Review. His photographs have appeared in The Worcester Review, Diner, Ballard Street Poetry Journal, The River Valley Current, the Worcester Telegram and Worcester Magazine.
 

“In his debut poetry collection, Finding the Words, John Gaumond stands in the rubble of his
ruminations with his talents as a deft wordsmith. His utilization of rhyme and intellect combine to
illuminate his subjects, enabling readers to see the world in extraordinary ways. The book portrays
mysterious and tragic occurrences of his youth which required assuming responsibilities of
adulthood. A noble dignity and sobering acceptance are revealed to surmount life’s challenges. His
ekphrastic poems possess a deep wonder and imagination. From tender moments recalling Marilyn
Monroe’s smile, to the implications of abandoning the penny, this book fills me with admiration and
respect.”
     Review by bg Thurston