Auburn celebrates April as National Poetry Month with a series of events that are open to the public.

• Monday, April 2, 7 p.m., Auburn Station Bistro, 10 2nd St. SW

Woodinville’s Peggy Barnett and Tacoma’s Emilie Rommel Shimkus, an Auburn native, will feature in a new open mic venue, Poetry. Seattle poetry activist Chris Jarmick emcees. Presented by Northwest Renaissance Poets, Performers & Publisher and Auburn Striped Water Poets. Plenty of parking. Event is free, open to poets of every age and skill level, and will continue 7 p.m. first Mondays at The Station Bistro. For more information, contact mcbreenpost@aol.com.

• Sunday, April 22, 1-4 p.m., White River Valley Museum, Muckleshoot Room, 918 H St. SE, Auburn

Well-known and much-published Bellingham poet/teacher James Bertolino, a sparkling personality, leads a free poetry workshop. Presented by Northwest Renaissance Poets, Performers & Publisher with generous support from the Auburn Arts Commission. Admission is free, space is limited. To register, please call 253-939-0571.

• Tuesday, April 24, 7 p.m., Auburn Avenue Theater, 10 Auburn Ave.

State Poet Laureate Kathleen Flenniken, a former Hanford Nuclear facility engineer, reads from and discusses her new book, “Plume”. Reading with her is Auburn Poet Laureate Dick Brugger. Presented by Northwest Renaissance Poets, Performers & Publisher with generous support from the Auburn Arts Commission. Admission is free.