In recognition of April as National Poetry Month, Yale College Dean Mark Schenker will present a series of lecture-discussions at C.H. Booth Library on three of the most popular American poets of the 20th Century.

Dr Schenker’s series will open on Saturday, March 9, with a program concerning Donald Hall (1928-2018). It will continue on Saturday, March 23, with a focus on Mary Oliver (1935-2019); and conclude Saturday, April 6, with a look at the life and work of Billy Collins (b 1941). Each program will begin at 2 pm, and will be in the Gathering Room of the library, 25 Main Street.

All three are poets of our region: Donald Hall was born in Hamden and later moved to New Hampshire, where he served as state Poet Laureate. Born in Ohio, Mary Oliver taught for years at Bennington College, Vt., and lived for most of her later life in Provincetown, Mass. Billy Collins was born in New York City and taught for more than 40 years at Lehman College in the Bronx.

Dr Schenker has lectured at the library many times over the years. People find his talks very thought-provoking, according to Booth Library Program Coordinator Lucy Handley. Even those who think they you don’t “get” or like poetry, “you will have a new perspective after these discussions,” Ms Handley promises.

Handouts of selected poems of each poet are available at the library in the café area. Registration is requested, separately for each program, and can be done by calling 203-426-4533 or visiting chboothlibrary.org.