Patrick T. Randolph

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Patrick T. Randolph organized Empty Shoes, a national project to raise awareness of homelessness and help the homeless; it was a volume of poetry from well-known poets nationwide who then contributed the proceeds to a national organization. Since then he has also published Father's Philosophy and has appeared in numerous journals and publications. He is originally from Wisconsin, but lives in Carbondale now and with his wife Gamze is expecting a baby in late February. His website has links to his publications.

Kathy Cotton

Kathy Cotton's poem, Deluxe Box, won first prize in the Illinois State Poetry Society's annual contest in 2011. She is the Facilitator in the Southern Chapter of the Poetry Society, and is active in the local Transpoetic Playground, where performance poetry is read on Monday nights at Global Gourmet.

Thomas Leverett

e pluribus haiku is Thomas Leverett's first published work of poetry, but he has published three collections of short stories and a collection of plays as well. e pluribus haiku is a collection of over 500 haiku from fifty states, based roughly on a travel experience in the 1970's. They are based on the idea that North American haiku, due the the diverse climates of the land, must include a clue to location as well as a clue to a particular season. He is better known as a fiddler in Parsley Sagebrush Band and has lived in the area for seventeen years. e pluribus haiku is available on Kindle or at the reading.

Benefit Poetry Reading

Feb. 8, 7-9 PM, Longbranch Coffeehouse, Jackson St., Carbondale IL

The Longbranch is just east of the railroad tracks on the main square of Carbondale.

This reading is a benefit for the Good Samaritan Homeless Shelter in Carbondale. Canned goods and donations will be accepted for this shelter. Nobody will be turned away, however. We hope you can attend!

More about each presenting author is above.