Calendar highlights

Poems: Sweeter than wine?
This Valentine’s Day, love poems will be sweeter than any glass of champagne, box of chocolates or vase of long-stem roses.

The Friends of the Libraries and College Library will present the community’s most notable members reading “Madison’s Favorite Love Poems,” 4:30-6 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 13, on the third floor of College Library.

Hosted by Ken Frazier, Libraries director, the event will celebrate the sonnets, haikus and limericks that explore the most powerful human emotion: love. Invited readers include politicians, administrators, students, award-winning poets, journalists and others. “We ask that the recited poems not be poems the readers have written, but ones they have read, perhaps many times, and to which they feel a personal attachment,” Frazier says.

Attendees also may bring along brief poems that fit the criteria. The event will include an open call for readers from the audience. After audience members have shared their favorites, the invited guests will read. Information: 263-4819, nrydell@library.wisc.edu.

“A Girl In Water’ released by Parallel Press
Poet Barbara Edelman reflects on the joys and hardships of youth in Parallel Press’s latest release, “A Girl inWater.”

This 16-piece chapbook delves into the imagination of a woman who struggles to form her own identity using her mother and absent father as role models.

A chapbook is a small-format literary work, usually of poetry or essays. “A Girl in Water” marks the 17th release by Parallel Press, an imprint of the UW–Madison Libraries.

Each Parallel Press chapbook costs $10; annual subscriptions for six are $50.

Write: Parallel Press, 372 Memorial Library, 728 State St., Madison, WI 53706.

Humanities book party is Feb. 15 at Canterbury
Mingle, munch and make conversation with humanities faculty authors at a reception 3:30-5 p.m., Friday, Feb. 15, at Canterbury Booksellers, 315 W. Gorham St.

The event is sponsored by the Center for the Humanities; Wisconsin Academy of Science, Arts and Letters; and Canterbury Booksellers.

More than 40 faculty authors will feature their recently published books covering such topics as aesthetics, psychoanalysis, African mythology, Louis Sullivan, Milton and the modernization of Japan.

For a full list of authors and more information, call 258-9911 or 263-3409.