11 Jun Talking Gourds: San Miguel County Poet Leads “Stories & Poems,” Telluride Library, 6/16!
San Miguel County Poet Laureate Paulo Munguía will be the featured presenter in English and Spanish at the Talking Gourds’ Stories & Poems series at Telluride’s Wilkinson Public Library on Tuesday June 16th at 5:15 pm.
The Bardic Trails virtual zoom series continues on the first Tuesday of each month at 7 pm with town support from the Telluride Institute, the Wilkinson Public Library and the Commission for Community Assistance, Arts & Special Events.
“Paulo has really blossomed as our local poet laureate, creating fascinating (and funny) videos as well as making strong poetry performances in both Spanish and English,” said Talking Gourds director Art Goodtimes.
Born in Morelos, México and based in Montrose, Colorado, Munguía defines himself as a free soul. He is the first Hispanic person to be named poet laureate in San Miguel County (2025-2027)
Co-sponsored by Telluride’s Wilkinson Public Library and the Telluride Institute, the literary event is free and open to the public of all ages. Attendees are encouraged to bring a story or poem of their own, or of someone they like, to read aloud.
For those that like prompts, this month’s will be “Cinco de Mayo” – although stories or poems on any subject are welcome.
Talking Gourds, more:
In July on the 21st Durango-based Indigenous Poet Esther Belin heads up the evening.
The West End Stories & Poems series continues at the Naturita Community Library on the second Thursday of each month at 6 pm MST. Writers and reciters are also invited to share stories and poems of their own – or of their favorite poets/authors – with facilitators Leslie Ament and Goodtimes. The June 11th session will feature Buddy Davis of Norwood speaking about his great-great-grandfather Quanah Parker of the Comanche.
The national Fischer and state Cantor poetry prize contests started up again on April 1 for 2026. Go to the Gourds’ website to see photos, bios and poems of our winners and finalists. Deadline for submissions is Aug. 31, 2026.
In addition to being eligible for over $4000 in prize awards, participants are a primary means of support for all the projects of the Talking Gourds poetry program.
Thanks also to the Cantor Family, the Guttman Family Foundation, CCAASE, several local and regional donors and our Fischer and Cantor contest participants for financially supporting Gourds’ program and projects.
For more information, visit the Telluride Institute Talking Gourds website: tellurideinstitute.org/talking-gourds
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