MPJ Birth Story

On April 13th, 2025, a brand-new publication, Midcoast Poetry Journal Volume 1 April 2025, debuted at Thomaston Public Library. Celebrating poets and poetry of Midcoast Maine, the Journal collects 25 poets and their work and is sponsored by members of the two Poets’ Corner groups who meet twice a month at Thomaston and Rockport Public Libraries

Late last year, when poets from the Rockport and Thomaston Poets’ Corner groups discussed poetry readings, poets, poetry groups, and scheduling events in the Midcoast area including just Thomaston, Rockland, Damariscotta, Rockport, Camden, and Belfast, it became clear that there was a lot going on! Len Germinara who had experience with an active poetry center in Sacramento California proposed that the group put together a calendar of events and post it free on‑line using various social media platforms.

As luck would have it, the group has a tech savvy poet who is the facilitator for both Poets’ Corner groups. Being “Wicked Good” (he would say “Middling Good”) at that kind of thing and happy to share his knowledge and services to help connect poets and promote people writing poetry, Bill Eberle built an online calendar to list all poetry events in Midcoast Maine, an area that covers more area than most people imagine (see map). The calendar is free for any and all poets and poetry groups in Midcoast Maine.

the group asking “Should we publish a Journal of poetry from Midcoast Maine?” The answer, “Why not?”

Calls for submissions went out in January with a deadline of February 28th. The response was immediate and exuberant. Twenty‑five (25) poets from up and down the coast sent poems, truly wonderful poetry! The work in this collection cuts a wide swath through Maine life from the vacation land ethos of the summer season to the winter solitude and quiet walks in idyllic locations. It has familiar themes, including science, politics, life and love, and chronicles Maine living in a way that will resonate with visitors as well as natives. The Journal is the kind of book you can hand to a friend when they want to know what life is like here on this craggy coast.

Our book launch celebration saw over 40 poetry fans turn out to hear poets read from this new collection. The poet readers were: Megan Berman, Charles Brown, Eleanor Cade Busby, Steve Cartwright, Zachary Cole, Bill Eberle, Len Germinara, Ann Leamon, Paul McFarland, Karyn Lie-Nielsen, Mary Jane Martin, Annette Naegel, Sarah Oktay, Karin Spitfire, Daphne Lehava Stern, Harold Van Lonkhuyzen, Sue Dow Thurston, Francesmary Vigeant, Dana Wildes, and Alaina Zyhowski.

You can find more technical and cost details about the Midcoast Poetry Calendar project below the calendar on the main page. Look for “read more” and “read even more.”

Please consider reading at or attending one of our future Midcoast Poetry Journal readings. Thank you.