Concord poetry reading celebrates Conquer 250 winners at library event

The Concord Free Public Library hosted a Conquer 250 poetry reading and awards event featuring five winning poems and moderated reflections on themes raised by the submissions. Organizer Jennifer Hurley Wales opened the program and named the judges, including Dory Carlin and Rob Monroe, and said the competition drew 68 submissions from across Massachusetts. Rob Monroe moderated the readings and introduced each poet before short discussions.

Winners and readers included Betsy Divine, who read "If We Can Keep It Here" and reflected on the poem's concern with preserving freedoms; Sarah Kleti's "The Pledge," read by Dory Carlin, prompted conversation about whether the pledge is a promise or a prayer; Jenna Rle read "The Declaration of Interdependence," which drew questions about imagery of nature and communal life; Elizabeth Frank read "A Feast for Everyone," tying Indigenous histories to contemporary diversity; and first-place winner Pen Rogers read "Declaration Revised," a piece that reframes founding-era language and urged renewed, inclusive civic commitment.

After each reading Monroe and other commentators asked brief questions about imagery, historical references and the poets' creative choices. Audience members offered short reactions and a few poet-to-poet exchanges followed, underscoring the communal and reflective tone of the afternoon. The event concluded with applause and an invitation to refreshments and to pick up a booklet of the winning poems produced by the Conquer 250 committee.

This was a cultural community event rather than a government meeting; no formal motions, votes, or policy actions were taken.