SPRINGFIELD – April is National Poetry Month and the Bing Arts Center is presenting a night of music and poetry to help celebrate.

Springfield poet L.D. Green is both host and performer for the event, which is at 8 p.m. on April 7 at the Bing Arts Center on Sumner Avenue. Admission is $5, which benefits the Bing and the event is family friendly.

Green recalled how he went to the Bing as a child to see movies and performing there now is “really special.”

A musician, Green has been writing poetry for years, but said he had stopped. His home in Sixteen Acres was one of the ones hit by the June 1, 2011 tornado and he remembered how as they were leaving his home, which was uninhabitable, each member of his family took one item with them.

For Green, it was a suitcase containing copies of his poetry. His wife noticed what he selected and told him he hadn’t written poetry for 10 years.

“She said, it must be a sign I should get back to writing,” Green said.

Although Green has staged an annual music fundraiser for veterans, this is the first poetry night for him.

He explained musicians Joe Carvalho, Christopher Goudreau and Noah Schmitt would provide the musical background to poetry presented by Green, Hanna Holman and Goudreau, who will be doing artistic double-duty.

The special guest will be musician Vinny Salkowski who will be reading the lyrics of songs he has written.

Green added there will be a poetry trivia contest and the poets will have their works for sale.

The doors will open at 7:30 p.m. Refreshments will be available.

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