Judith Ortiz Cofer

The presence of The Georgia Review and the town’s general population of wordsmiths young and old make the poetry scene in Athens a thriving niche full of surprises and support. The second annual summer poetry festival, “Seat in the Shade,” is hosted by UGA professor Melisa Cahnmann-Taylor and features five weeknights of poetry readings upstairs at The Globe, starting with Judith Ortiz Cofer on Thursday, June 6. Stephen Corey, Jenny Gropp Hess and The Georgia Review team take over on Friday night, June 7, followed by Laura Newbern Monday, June 10; Jericho Brown Tuesday, June 11; Tamara J. Madison Wednesday, June 12 and the Athens Poetry Collective Thursday, June 13. All readings begin at 7 p.m. and are free. Serious poetry here, folks, and fun!