Ear to the ground:

“Just living the Durango dream: two jobs and no money.”
– Sadly, an all-too common local response to “How’s it going?”

A week for bookworms

Free your inner Longfellow or Dickinson. April is more than a month to ponder the irrepressible changing of the seasons and the never-ending cycle of life and death. It’s time to celebrate National Poetry Month, if not outwardly, then with a pen and paper or quietly pondering some prose.

To help mark the occasion, none other than Colorado Poet Laureate David Mason will be at Maria’s Bookshop tonight, Thurs., April 17, from 7:30 - 8:30 p.m. His appearance will also commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Wilderness Act.

 Mason’s books of poems include The Buried Houses, The Country I Remember and Arrivals. His novel of verse, Ludlow, won the Colorado Book Award in 2007 and was named “Best Book of Contemporary Poetry” by the Contemporary Poetry Review. The novel was also featured on the PBS’s “NewsHour.”

In addition to his poetry, Mason has also authored a collection of essays, The Poetry of Life and the Life of Poetry, as well as a memoir, News from the Village, in 2010. His latest collection of essays, Two Minds of a Western Poet, came out in 2011.

 A former Fulbright fellow, Mason splits his time between Oregon and Colorado, where he teaches at Colorado College.

And speaking of books, if you happen to be walking down the street next week and someone hands you a free book, take it. Wed., April 23 is “World Book Night.” This marks the third year for the international event, which incidentally coincides with Shakespeare’s birthday.

The idea behind the ambitious campaign is to share the love of reading with those without means or access to a printed book. With the support of local bookstores and libraries, “book givers” share their favorite books with people everywhere from hospitals and crowded buses to nursing homes, food pantries, schools and more.

For more info on these events, go to www.mariasbookshop.com.

World Book night won’t be the only group handing out free books. In an effort to promote early reading, the Durango Public Library is giving free copies Jeremy Tankard’s book Grumpy Bird to local 4-year-olds now through Mon., April 21.

The book, which is the 2014 selection for the “One Book 4 Colorado” program, is available in either English or Spanish and can be picked up during regular library hours. Books are also available at Sunnyside and Fort Lewis Mesa branch libraries.

For info on One Book 4 Colorado, go to www.onebook4colorado.org.