Joys of poetry unfold for children, families.

Byline: Michael Pescaro

FITCHBURG - Introducing children and families to the beauties of poetry-and to their own talents in writing and reciting poetry - is the goal of a monthly Sunday afternoon series at the Rabbit Hole, 805 Main St.

Participants are encouraged to present their own poems aloud or to read the works of others. These readings began this summer, according to store manager Sam Montgomery.

Parents Erik Jarvi and Sarah Klapprodt ran the recent October meeting, because organizer Sally Cragin was not available. "Sally hopes to get the community involved with poetry," said Mr. Jarvi. "She hopes to bring people of all ages together and allow them to share the written art."

This written art is nothing new to Mr. Jarvi's 9-year-old daughter Greta, a fourth-grader at Reingold Elementary School. She has created several poems of her own. On Sunday she presented her poem "My Daddy's New Number." Mr Jarvi said, "She won't let me hear it until she reads it today."

The poem, which Greta wrote about her father turning 60, shows that she has talent as a young wordsmith. "Never stopping time/Lay live a hard, long life/Still he grasps a loving wife/Care he gives to all his young," she read in the first part of her poem.

The members of the Jarvi family, with other children and parents, also read pieces by Robert Frost and Shel Silverstein. Mrs. Klapprodt and her husband, Todd, brought their children, Triston, Barrett, and Sage, and their nephew Tyler. Also participating were Eric Pabon and his daughter Ariana.

The group read several poems about the season of autumn, as well as some scary pieces in honor of Halloween. Selections were also taken from Silverstein's books "Falling Up" and "Runny Babbit." Even 4-year-old Sage Klapprodt read out loud, with the help of her father. All of the children read and discussed poems for more than an hour.

The next reading will be held at 1 p.m. Nov. 1 at the bookstore. For more information, call [phone] or visit www.therabbitholeusa.com.

ART: PHOTO

PHOTOG: T&G Staff/CHRISTINE PETERSON

CUTLINE: Greta Jarvi, 9, reads her poem "My Daddy's New Number" at the monthly family poetry series at the Rabbit Hole in Fitchburg.