APRIL IS NATIONAL poetry month

Meet St. Clair Shores Poet Laureate M.L. Liebler

St.Clair Shores has a special literary resource that very few cities in America can claim – a poet laureate. M.L. Liebler, who was given the honorary title in 2005, is an internationally known poet, the author of 15 books, a Wayne State University professor and literary arts activist. A Shores native, Liebler’s work discusses themes such as the working class, politics and spirituality.

Much of Liebler’s poetry is autobiographical, and he gains inspiration from his extensive travels –which have taken him anywhere from Afghanistan to New York City. His poetry also talks about his upbringing in St. Clair Shores, where he was raised by his grandparents.

“I’ve been all over the world,” Liebler says, “[but] I’m perfectly happy living here. My wife and I have been together since we were 14. We live in the home that she grew up in. My wife is a die-hard Shorian.” Liebler is a 1971 Lake Shore High School graduate, and his wife Pam is a 1972 graduate.

SCS Literary Events

Liebler partners with the St. Clair Shores Public Library to bring community members a variety of events each year. Every third Thursday of the month, from 7-8:30 p.m., Liebler leads a creative writing workshop, where participants can share a poem or part of a story with the group and receive constructive comments.

“It’s not a closed club or anything,” Liebler says. “Not everyone brings poems or stories in. They can just enjoy the camaraderie.”

In addition, 2023 marks the Fifth Annual St. Clair Shores Literary Walk by the Lake. Held at Blossom Heath, Liebler describes the outdoor event as “more or less a literary festival” featuring readings from some nationally known and local writers.

Throughout the year Liebler also organizes about six Poets and Pies events, featuring poetry readings, open mic opportunities and free pie. They have been held in the winter at places such as the festively decorated bathhouse at Blossom Heath and on a summer evening in the yard of the Selinsky-Green Farmhouse Museum.

Beatles Forever: A Short Story with Music, a hugely popular program that Liebler and a live band have been performing at various libraries for almost 10 years, will be held this year at Blossom Heath on Sunday, April 16 at 2 p.m.

“I wrote a story about growing up, with a lot of references to the Shores, during the time when the Beatles came on the scene,” Liebler says. “So, I pulled this story I'd written years ago out of mothballs, put some Beatles songs into it in key places, and then had a friend do a big video montage that went

BY ANNA SWARTZ

Creative Writing Workshop Every thirdThursday, 7-8:30p.m.atthe St.ClairShores PublicLibrary

Beatles Forever: A Short Story with Music Sunday,April16 at2p.m.at BlossomHeath along with the story.” Liebler says 28 Beatles songs are included in the show, and singing along is encouraged.

Literary Arts Activism

Liebler’s work in the literary community over the years is vast. It includes being a Poet in Residence for six weeks during the summer in the 1990s for the St. Clair Shores Public Library and other local libraries. During the mid-1980s till 1991, Liebler served as the president of the Poetry Resource Center of Michigan, which hosted readings, workshops and talks on how to get published. He is also the founding director of both The National Writer's Voice Project in Detroit and Springfed Arts: Metro Detroit Writers Literary Arts Organization. Liebler currently serves as the president of the Detroit Writers Guild.

To learn more about Liebler and upcoming literary events, go to www.mlliebler.com