Annaliese Jakimides hosts Mike Bove and Michelle Menting in Russell’s Poetry Grove.

”Impactful, exquisite poems are submitted to competitions. Despite the fact that poems likely don’t even like to be competing with each other (really, just consider what a poem is, carries, exemplifies), poets still seek ways to be recognized in this chattery world. Finalists (Not winners! Why? Who knows?) over the years will air out their poems, let them breathe in this grove of aliveness that says welcome.”