the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Mahwah NJ, the township of Mahwah will honor Joyce Kilmer, the celebrated poet behind the timeless poem “Trees,” with a special concert at the Mahwah Public Library on Sunday, February 2. The event, recognized as Joyce Kilmer Day, marks the 13th annual celebration organized by the Joyce Kilmer Society of Mahwah and the Mahwah Film/Art/Music Commission.
A Musical Tribute to Joyce Kilmer’s Poetry
This year’s tribute features a unique musical performance of six of Kilmer’s poems, with original compositions by Timothy Miller, deputy and technical director of the New York Composers Circle. Among the poems set to music are:
🎵 “Trees”
🎵 “The House with Nobody In It”
🎵 “The Apartment House”
🎵 “Mount Houvenkopf”
🎵 “Poets”
🎵 “Old Poets”
The concert will showcase performances by:
🎤 Soprano Valerie Gonzalez
🎹 Pianist Craig Ketter
🎼 Clarinetist Daniel Ketter
🎶 Mahwah High School Chamber Chorus
A Legacy Rooted in Mahwah History
Kilmer, who lived in Mahwah from 1912 to 1917, wrote “Trees” on February 2, 1913, while residing at 162 Airmount Road. Although the actual tree that inspired the poem remains unknown, Kilmer’s widow, Aline Kilmer, recounted that he wrote the poem from an upstairs window overlooking a wooded hill.
In 2013, during the 100th anniversary of the poem’s composition, Mahwah officially declared February 2 as Joyce Kilmer Day in perpetuity. The township also honors his legacy with the Joyce Kilmer School on Ridge Road, serving students in grades four and five.
Kilmer’s Lasting Influence in Poetry and History
A literary icon, Kilmer was named to the Bergen County Historical Society’s first list of Bergen County Legends in 2014 and was later inducted into the New Jersey Hall of Fame in October 2020. His poem “Trees” remains one of the most beloved works in English literature, known for its simple yet profound appreciation of nature.
“I think that I shall never see
A poem lovely as a tree.”
Event Details & Registration
📅 Date: Sunday, February 2
🕑 Time: 2:00 – 3:30 PM
📍 Location: Mahwah Public Library, 100 Ridge Road
💵 Cost: Free (Registration Required)
🎟️ How to Register: Mahwah library cardholders must register by Saturday at mahwah.librarycalendar.com. A public reception will follow the concert.
Join the Mahwah community in celebrating Joyce Kilmer’s legacy with an afternoon of music, poetry, and history!
Join the new Saddle River Valley, Ramapo and Pascack Valley Communities Facebook group
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1931704860512551/
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