Music and poetry to take spotlight at NWF Book ’n Brunch event

A music, poetry and coffeehouse event, part of the NWF Book ’n Brunch series, will be held at Northwest Florida State College on Friday, March 11, at 11:30 a.m. in the Barnes & Noble Bookstore and Starbucks Cafe on the Niceville Campus.

The event – which is free and open to the public – will feature music by Dr. Jeremy Ribando, chair of the Humanities, Fine and Performing Arts Division, and poetry by Dr. Deidre Price, professor of English.

Price will read from her work Lie/Lay/Lain: The Body in Tenses. The following is an excerpt:

I set my grammar on the table,
leave dirty participles by the sink,
forgetting the distances between
lie/lay/lain.

I speak in second person
when I’ve told students not to
all day long.

I let up on tense shifts,
in this steady present of my home,

where I see drafts of my children in progress,
two daughters,
a son.

Let there be no stray marks,
only bold, crescendoed beauty,

love in every tense
in sight.

Ribando, an award-winning composer who has received numerous commissions and performances of his works, will perform selections from his music, including a piece inspired by Price’s poetry.

Specials will be available at the Starbucks Café during the event.