Feeling literary? Try Dial-A-Poet

Whoever claimed poetry is a dying craft never met Kimberly Brittingham. Brittingham, an editor at the literary magazine Kollage, has started a literary revolution -- over the phone. Trying to bring greater exposure to local poets as well as enlighten the public, she created Philadelphia Dial-A-Poet earlier this year. The line, a free-access number which treats callers to readings of recorded poetry, is a local call in the 215 area code. Anyone can dial -- 24 hours a day -- to hear the poems, all read by local poets. Brittingham funds the line with her own money, and the poets volunteer their creations and time to her cause. The line features one new poem each week. At the end of the reading, callers are given the option of relaying a message of praise or criticism to the poet. Brittingham said response to the line has been much greater than she anticipated. "I began the line just as a hobby and just for fun," she said. Though the line has been featured in several newspaper articles, most callers found out about the line "through word of mouth." "I would like in the near future to take six to eight poets and have them read at a cafe," Brittingham said. "Then, [I'd like to] have the audience read their own work so I can see if I want to have their work read on the line." She said she feels this would enable her to attain a greater range of poetry because she would hear the work of those who are hesitant to submit their poems. Laurie Wagman, founder and chairperson of the American Family Theater, learned about Dial-A-Poet from an article that appeared in the weekly newspaper Welcomat. She now calls the line once a week. "I think it's really a lovely moment," she said. "I'm really glad [Brittingham] set this up so we can share it. I think it's marvelous that something like this can still exist." Because Wagman said she believes poets have a limited audience with which to share their work, "it's special to have this kind of outreach for the poets as well as the listeners." Wagman added that she has spread the word to her friends. "I would encourage people to take a few minutes of their lives to tune in, and they will be the richer for it," she added. The number for the line is 928-5185. This week, the featured poem is "Subterranean" by Helene Bar.

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