"Joyce Kilmer" to Visit Joyce Kilmer Elementary School on His Birthday Friday, December 6

A slide show on the life and works of Joyce Kilmer will be presented Friday (December 6) at Mahwah's Joyce Kilmer Elementary School, which was named in honor of the famous poet.

Kilmer, born on December 6, 1886, lived for five years with his wife and four children in Mahwah between 1912 and late 1916.

He wrote the poem "Trees" in his Mahwah house at the southwest corner of Airmount and Armour Roads on February 2, 1913, a composition that remains 100 years later as one of the most-read poems in the English language.

Kilmer also wrote other memorable poems in Mahwah, including "The House With Nobody In It," "Memorial Day," "Mount Houvenkopf" and "The Twelve-Forty-Five."

The Joyce Kilmer Society will present the slide show entitled "Trees" to segments of the student body beginning at 9 a.m. By the end of the day, half of the 500 students will be shown the presentation.

The other half will be shown the program on December 13.

The Joyce Kilmer Society also placed an exhibit in the school as part of the observance of the poet's birthday.