Baltimore, MD -- Eight nationally-recognized poets will read selections of their work and speak about the role of poetry in contemporary America when the Center for the Humanities presents a day-long Poetry Symposium in the University Center Ballroom. The symposium is free and open to the public.

Does contemporary poetry have any real influence on the society in which we live? What is the role and future of poetry in popular culture? How and why is poetic form important to the poetic act? These questions will be addressed and debated by the audience and the following invited speakers:

· Linda Pastan. Pastan served as Poet Laureate of Maryland from 1991 to 1994. She has won numerous national awards and has published 13 books of poetry including The Five Stages of Grief and Aspects of Eve.

· Michael Harper. The Kapstein Professor of English at Brown University, Harper was the first Poet Laureate of Rhode Island from 1988 to 1993. He has written numerous books of poetry including Dear John, Dear Coltrane: Poems and History Is Your Own Heartbeat: Poems. He is the editor of the definitive Vintage Anthology of African American Poetry.

· Ray Gonzalez. Gonzalez served as poetry editor of The Bloomsbury Review for 15 years, is the author of three books of poetry and the editor of 16 anthologies. His memoir of growing up in the Southwest is entitled Memory Fever: A Journey Beyond El Paso Del Norte.

· Leo Connellan. The author of 14 books of poetry, Connellan is also currently Poet Laureate of the State of Connecticut, as well as the poet-in-residence for the Connecticut State University System.

· Forrest Gander. Gander is the editor of Mouth to Mouth, a bilingual anthology of contemporary Mexican poets and is the author of four books including Science & Steepleflower.

· Derrick Gilbert. A poet and spoken-word artist, Gilbert is a Ph.D. candidate in sociology at the University of California, Los Angeles. Under his pseudonym of D-Knowledge, he has recorded a spoken word album with producer Quincy Jones.

· Terence Winch. Among Winch\\'s publishing credits are both poems and short stories including Irish Musicians/American Friends and The Great Indoors.

Poet Michael Fallon, professor of English at UMBC, will also act as moderator of the day\\'s two key sessions: \\"The Contemporary Poets Audience\\" (1:00-2:30 p.m.) and \\"The Role of Form in Contemporary Poetry\\" (3:15-4:45 p.m.). The poets will read selections from their works at 7 p.m.

For more information or to learn more about the Center for the Humanities, please call (410) 455-6798.