River Talk Series

Event: A Reading of River Poems

Title: What the River Brings

Time: July 26, 2025 at 2:00

Place: O’Brien Memorial library, 51771 Blue River Drive, Blue River, OR 97413

The newly opened O’Brien Memorial library will host the next of its River Talks on

Saturday, July 26. Paulann Petersen and Charles Goodrich, two of Oregon’s most

admired poets, will explore the confluence of poetry and the river.

Paulann Petersen was Oregon’s sixth Poet Laureate, has won numerous awards, and is

often described as “beloved.” Even the titles of her books suggest why, including Wild

Awake, Kindle, and The Voluptuary, among many others.

Charles Goodrich is Oregon’s poet of the earth, and its creatures. He was for twenty-five

years a professional gardener before directing the Spring Creek Project, bringing

together writers, artists and scientists to explore the intersections of art,

environmentalism and ethics.

What the River Brings is the fifth of seven River Talks taking place each month through

September. These events are underwritten by a generous grant from Oregon

Humanities, and are free and open to the public.

Upcoming River Talk Series:

August 23 MARGARET COE Master Painter of Oregon Rivers.

Sept. 20 JOE MOLL “Recovery After the Holiday Farm Fire.”