Lone Star College-Montgomery’s Writers in Performance Series is hosting the 17th annual birthday celebration of esteemed poet Walt Whitman during two separate events on Thursday, May 20.
 
The celebration will bring together more than 20 of the region’s best-known poets for what, according to Dianne Logan of the Montgomery County Literary Arts Council, is known as one of the longest-running Whitman birthday celebrations in the world.
 
The first event, which takes place at 3 p.m. in the library (Bldg. F), Michael Robertson, Ph.D., author of Worshipping Walt: The Whitman Disciples, will discuss Whitman’s cult-like following of men and women who regarded him not only as a writer but as a religious prophet.
 
As a professor of English at the College of New Jersey, Robertson is considered one of the world’s most influential authorities on the life and works of the man often called “The Father of American Poetry.” In addition to Worshipping Walt, Robertson co-edited Where the Future Becomes Present: Walt Whitman and “Leaves of Grass.”

Then, at 7 p.m. at the Corner Pub in downtown Conroe, there will be the traditional gathering of poets in an open-mic reading, book sale, and birthday bash. All poetry lovers are invited to bring a favorite Whitman poem to read during the open mic segment of the celebration.  
 
The public is invited to attend this event, which includes a cake cutting, book sale and autograph signing.  Cash bar and pub foods are available through the restaurant.
 
The goal of the Writers in Performance series is to bring thought-provoking literature and cultural diversity to the campus of LSC-Montgomery and the surrounding community. The series’ events are made possible by the partnership between the Montgomery County Literary Arts Council, LSC-Montgomery Library, the Conroe Commission on the Arts and Culture, Good Books in the Woods, LSC-Montgomery’s Academy for Lifelong Learning, and SWIRL, LSC-Montgomery’s magazine of student art and writing.
 
For more information, contact Dave Parsons, professor of English at LSC-Montgomery at (936) 524-6537 or David.M.Parsons@LoneStar.edu.
 
LSC-Montgomery is located at 3200 College Park Drive, one-half mile west of Interstate 45, between Conroe and The Woodlands. For more information about the college, call (936) 273-7000, or visit www.LoneStar.edu/montgomery.
 
With more than 62,000 students in credit classes in spring 2010, Lone Star College System is the second largest and the fastest-growing community college system in Texas and the largest institution of higher education in the Houston area. LSCS consists of five colleges including LSC-CyFair, LSC-Kingwood, LSC-Montgomery, LSC-North Harris, and LSC-Tomball, six centers, LSC-University Park, LSC-University Center at Montgomery, LSC-University Center at University Park, Lone Star Corporate College, and LSC-Online. To learn more visit LoneStar.edu.