The Poetry of Hart Crane

Poet Hart Crane was born in Garrettsville in 1899 and died by suicide in the Atlantic Ocean somewhere off Florida in 1932. In between the extremes of his short and tortured life, he crafted some of the most linguistically profound poetry of his time, attempting, as one historian puts it, “to synthesize with accuracy unusually complex states of thought.” Crane’s works seem as good a place as any to launch Lakewood Public Library’s celebration of National Poetry Month. Doing the honors today is Cleveland actor and producer Tim Tavcar, founder of WordStage. “Crane was a word painter,” says Tavcar. “He was trying his best to absorb what he saw happening during the Jazz Age, and reinterpreting it in what he felt was the emerging American sensibility.” Tavcar’s presentation will focus on Crane’s letters, allowing them to serve as an introduction to his poems. Each poem will be underscored with period music, including selections from Aaron Copeland and pieces by Erik Satie as interpreted by a French jazz trio. A Q & A session will follow the readings. The 7 p.m. program is free and open to the public. No pre-registration is required.