The opening ceremony of this year's international poetry festival "Poetry Spring" was held in the United States last weekend - with the festival's prologue. events took place at the Lemont World Lithuanian Center, Lithuanian schools in the Chicago area, and the Chicago Youth Center. The 61st "Poetry Spring", which has been renewed and is entering its 100th year, will offer fans more than XNUMX events in Lithuania and abroad this year.
The festival, organized since 1965, has become an integral part of the country's cultural life.
The traditional format of the event, supplemented by contemporary art trends, maintains the relevance of the festival, introduces authors from far and near abroad, and unites the voices of poets of the older and younger generations.
The official program of "Poetry Spring" in Lithuania and abroad will begin on May 18 and continue until June 1. The festival is organized by the Lithuanian Writers' Union and the Writers' Club. The festival is headed by poet, literature and culture expert Dainius Dirgėla.
Before the festival – a poetry almanac
The traditional "Poetry Spring" almanac was released last week, this year paying special attention to different generations of poets. The publication is now available for purchase on the Writers' Union website, and will also be available at festival events.
The compilers of the almanac are young generation literary critic and poet Martynas Pumputis and poet, writer, director, and National Prize laureate Alvydas Šlepikas.
"The almanac will be interesting. It publishes poems that have not been published anywhere," says A. Šlepikas, one of the almanac's compilers. He would like the poetry almanac to reflect the reflections and themes of the era and present the work of poets of recent years, even when opened by readers many years later.
The compiler of the almanac claims that the themes of eternal love, feelings, and the transience of existence remain in the poets' work, but today's events are also clearly evident - war, a tense, threatening world situation. "More open nerves, reflections of fear, death, anxiety, war. This is natural, after all, we live in a time of anxiety, the general current situation cannot but be reflected in the work," - A. Šlepikas has no doubt,
The second compiler of the almanac, M. Pumputis, says that cooperation with A. Šlepikas went smoothly, they trusted each other, and there was no tension: "The greatest lessons usually come from difficult, tense situations, discussions, and polemics. Working together calmly gave me the opportunity to learn peace and openness."
M. Pumputis has arranged the authors of the almanac by the year of publication of their first poetry book – from those who published their books the oldest to the most recent debutants. Those who do not yet have a book are arranged by the year of their first poetry publication.
The presentation of the almanac "Poetry Spring 2025" will take place on May 19 at the Lithuanian Writers' Union. The Laimonas Noreika Award for poetry reader and the prize for the best almanac essay will also be presented there.
Plenty of awards for the best
This year's Poetry Spring Festival in Lithuania will begin with events Beautiful ir Klaipėda on May 17, and the grand opening will take place on May 18 at 15 p.m. in the courtyard of the Vilnius Teachers' House. The news of the opening is that the winner of the "Poetry Spring" will be announced and awarded here.
Among the contenders for the prize are Gintaras Bleizgys for the travel poetry book "Urbino's Flame" (Association "Slinktys", 2024), Jurgita Jasponytė for the poetry book "The Universe Sits Down in the Wrong Place" (Lithuanian Writers' Union Publishing House, 2024), Mindaugas Nastaravičius for the poetry book "Antra dalis" (Tyto alba, 2024), Vytautas Stankus for the poetry book "Recollecting Bones" (Bazilisko ambasada, 2024) and Agnė Žagrakalytė for the poetry book "Liekamije įvenėviai" (Lithuanian Writers' Union Publishing House, 2024).
On the same day, a virtual meeting is being held in Klaipėda with JAVLithuanian poets living in Great Britain, Denmark, Germany, and Mexico.
Festival events in city and town squares, libraries, theater and museum halls, and cultural centers will take place until June 1. They will feature poetry, discussions, theatrical performances, night readings, and will commemorate deceased poets and honor the living.
On May 21, the traditional Zigmas Gėlė Literary Prize will be awarded at the Naisiai branch of the Šiauliai District Municipality Cultural Center. The award is presented in the hometown of poet Zigmas Gaidamavičius-Gėlė for the best first book of poetry. This year, the prize will be awarded to poet Rūta Vyžintaitė for her first book of poetry "The Sea of Luxembourg" (Lithuanian Writers' Union Publishing House).
The same evening, a poetry evening “Under the Wings of a Poetic Bird” will be held at the Vilkaviškis Public Library. The Salomėja Nėris Literary Prize, awarded for the most significant books of the past year, will be presented at the evening. The laureate of this prize this year is poet Rūta Mikulėnaitė-Jonuškienė for the poetry book “Roads of Blue Nights” (publishing house “Slinktys”).
The winner of the Dioniza Poška Prize will be honored at the "Poetry Spring" celebration on May 23 in Šilalė district, Bijotai, near the Dioniza Poška Baubliai Museum. The Šilalė district municipality presents the prize annually for the best book of Lithuanian poetry that reflects ethnic motifs, Lithuanian traditions and the historical memory of the nation. This year, the prize will be awarded to writer Aldona Ruseckaitė for her collection of poems "Prie horizonto atsigrėjk" (publisher "Kauko laiptai").
The next day, May 24, the village of Pauosupė in the Varėna district will gather children's poets. The 23rd "Poetry Spring" and the presentation of the Anzelmas Matutis Prize for the most beautiful poem for children about the Homeland, land and nature will take place here. The Anzelmas Matutis Prize was established by the Varėna district municipality to commemorate the memory of children's writer Anzelmas Matutis. The "Poetry Spring" prize for the best poetry book for children will be received at this event by poet Paulius Norvila. This year, he was awarded for his poetry book for children "Išprotėje eiėraščiai" (publisher "Nieko rimto").
The Jonas Aistis Prize award ceremony will take place on May 28 in the Kaišiadorys district, in Mergakalnis. The prize is awarded by the Kaišiadorys district municipality for the research and dissemination of Jonas Aistis's work and for the cultivation of the spirit of Aistis' lyricism in poetic creation. This year's Jonas Aistis Prize laureate is poet Ramutė Skučaitė for the book of poems "Akimirksniui užteks" (Lithuanian Writers' Union Publishing House).
On May 29, the Vilnius Energy and Technology Museum will commemorate poets who dedicate their work and literary activities to Vilnius. The Vilnius Mayor's Prize will be awarded to Kerry Shawn Keys, an American poet who has lived in Lithuania for many years, for his book of poems "Alphabet of Dreams" (published by Baziliskas, the book was compiled and the poems translated into Lithuanian by Dominykas Norkūnas).
On the same day, the best poetry translators will be awarded at the "Poetry Spring" guest evening held at the Lithuanian Writers' Union.
The Maironis Prize of the Kaunas City Municipality will be presented at the closing evening of the "Poetry Spring" in Kaunas, in the garden of the Maironis Lithuanian Literature Museum, on May 30. This year's Maironis Prize goes to poet Erika Drungyte for her poetry book "Bukolikos" (publisher "Slinktys").
Festival news – conversations with poets
This year's "Poetry Spring" festival is introducing something new - poets and poetry lovers will meet on May 21 in open conversation-discussion sessions at the MO Museum. The organizers of the discussions hope that warm and cozy conversations will bring poets and readers of their work closer together, allow you to delve deeper into the world of poetry, and listen to open conversations about the birth of poems, experiments, and creation.
In the first meeting, publicist and radio host Donatas Puslys will interview this year's "Poetry Spring" laureate. His or her name will be revealed only after the awards ceremony in the courtyard of the Vilnius Teachers' House. The conversation will examine the anatomy of poetry laurels.
The second talk at the MO Museum is dedicated to the synergy of poetry and song. The discussion, led by the creative artist and performer Dovilė Filmanavičiūtė, will feature poets E. Drungytė, Antanas A. Jonynas, and Rimvydas Stankevičius.
Young poets will talk about the trends and courage of contemporary poetry with Pijus Opera. “(Un)courageous Poetry Experiments” is a lively and contemporary look at today's poetic voice.
On May 22, the "Poetry Therapy Club" will be located in the event space of the National Martynas Mažvydas Library, where poetry will not only be read, but also discussed about the emotional space of poetry.
The most interesting conversations will not be complete without nightly poetry readings in the courtyard of the Lithuanian Writers' Union, at the homesteads of poets E. Drungytė and Eugenijus Ališanka, at an evening party in Punsk, and at poetry readings in Bern, Warsaw, Basel, and in Lithuanian cities and towns.
Synthesis of music and poetry
Poetry and music are two artistic languages that complement each other, and during the festival events they merge into a common sound, strengthening the emotional power of words. This year, "Spring of Poetry" invites you not only to listen to verses, but also to hear how they merge with music - through sung poetry, experimental sound performances and creative performances for children.
On May 22, an evening of sung poetry will be held in the courtyard of the Lithuanian Writers' Union. Bards Saulius Bareikis, Vytautas V. Landsbergis, Živilė Mackevičiūtė, and Darius Žvirblis will invite listeners to a sincere, authentic gathering.
On May 28, "Wind Jazz" will be held at the Balis and Vanda Sruogai House-Museum in Kaunas. In this event, poetry will intertwine with experimental music and unexpected forms, inviting viewers to experience freedom of expression in the sound space.
A musical poetic performance for children is being organized by "Teatras P" on May 31 at the Conference Hall of the National Martynas Mažvydas Library. Children will have the opportunity to experience poetry through music, movement, and imagination.
The festival's final chord will sound on the first day of summer at the legendary "Poetry Spring" venue, where poets are most often born - Vilnius University In the courtyard of MK Sarbievijus.
The international festival "Poetry Spring" has been held since 1965 and is considered one of the longest-running poetry festivals in the world. It takes place from May 18 to June 1 throughout Lithuania and abroad.
