32° and Cloudy
Image
Photo by Elizabeth Lowney. Pictured are (L to R) New England Poetry Club Board Members David Miller and Lynne Viti with featured poets Jim Brosnan and Jennifer Freed.
1-17-2026 1:22am
Poetry Club Founded by Robert Frost Continues New England Literary Tradition
Darlene Cancell
Editor
By Lynne Viti, Contributor
On January 11, the New England Poetry Club (NEPC) presented a lively and well-attended poetry program at the Westwood Public Library, bringing together featured poets, local writers, and young voices from the community. Featured poets Jennifer L. Freed and Jim Brosnan anchored the afternoon with readings that reflected the breadth and vitality of contemporary poetry.
Photo by David Miller. Westwood resident Kathleen Latham was one of 14 poets who participated in an open mic poetry event hosted by New England Poetry Club on January 11, 2026.They were joined by 14 open mic poets from Westwood and nearby towns of Norwood, Dedham, Jamaica Plain, Roslindale, and Needham, creating an engaging mix of established and emerging voices.
Among the open mic readers were Westwood residents Maria Costantini, Michael J. Dwyer, and Kathleen Latham, along with Westwood Youth Poet Laureates Charles Goodman (current) and Elizabeth Lowney (2024–2025), whose work highlighted the strength of youth poetry in the community.
Photo by David Miller. Westwood resident Maria Constantini reads her poem, "Winter Solstice."Michael J. Dwyer read “The Old Woman of Beare,” a vivid retelling of an ancient Irish legend. Kathleen Latham presented “Pantoum for an American Bystander,” a politically charged poem responding to recent clashes in Minneapolis and crafted in the demanding pantoum form. Maria Costantini read “Winter Solstice,” a reflective meditation on season and change. Youth Poet Laureate Elizabeth Lowney shared “Snowfall,” while current Youth Poet Laureate Charles Goodman read “The Oracle,” offering a striking contrast in voice and perspective.
Photo by Lynne Viti. Westwood Teen Poet Laureate Charles Goodman with his predecessor, Elizabeth Lowney (2024-25) shared their poems, "The Oracle" and "Snowfall," respectively, at a poetry program in Westwood on January 11, 2026.The program was hosted by New England Poetry Club Program Chair David P. Miller and NEPC board member Lynne Viti, who welcomed the poets and audience and underscored the club’s long-standing commitment to fostering poetry in the region.
Founded in 1915 by influential poets Amy Lowell, Robert Frost, and Conrad Aiken, the New England Poetry Club remains dedicated to promoting poetry through readings, workshops, and awards.
Photo by David Miller. Westwood resident Michael Dwyer reads his poem, "The Old Woman of Beare."The January 11 program continued that tradition, offering an evening that celebrated both the literary history of New England and the vibrant voices shaping its poetic future.
