Poet lariat

All right, Aaren Perry’s poetry is not about cowboys, I just like that headline. He might smack me for it, but he’ll do it with words. And what words …

 

Indy-born poet Aaren Perry is a dynamic performer of the art of the spoken word. Now living in Philadelphia, Perry is here to hawk his new book of poems, Open Fire, a collection of old and new work, including love poems and Midwestern landscape poetry.

 

“I am not trying to channel Riley, Knight, Carter, Vonnegut or Tarkington,” Perry says. “But even after living in Philly for more than half my life, I am still influenced by their dictions and sensibilities. You can’t lose where you’re from.”

 

The Writers’ Center of Indiana, who is staging the book release event, promises a party, with poetry, food, drink and music. Perry attended Shortridge High School and has performed at various local venues, including the Phoenix Theatre and Butler University. His Poetry Across the Curriculum and his musical spoken word CD, Mercury Calling, were released in 2001.

 

Perry’s book release party will be held Saturday, April 24 at 7 p.m. The Writers’ Center is located at 812 E. 67th St. (in the building just west of the Indianapolis Art Center and just east of the corner of 67th Street and College Avenue). Call 255-0710 for more info.