Community Corner
The Story of Joyce Kilmer's Trees with Alex Michelini founder of the Joyce Kilmer Society of Mahwah
Joyce Kilmer, a resident of Mahwah, was one of the most famous Americans to die during the First World War. Before his death in 1918, he was an up and coming poet. Trees, in which he mixed religion and a deep love of nature, became his most famous piece of work. “Trees” was an overnight success when it was published in August, 1914 and remains, up to this day, one of the most popular poems in the English language. In 1936, the federal government purchased 3,800 acres of land in North Carolina and dedicated it to the revered poet. Today, there are numerous schools and streets all over the country that are named in his honor.
Presenter Alex Michelini is the founder of the Joyce Kilmer Society of Mahwah. The Society is a non-profit
educational organization dedicated to the public enlightenment of the life and times of poet/patriot Joyce Kilmer in Mahwah through its newsletters, lectures and exhibits. It encourages emerging poets through
opportunities for public exposure of their compositions, and endeavor to foster a deeper appreciation of poetry and the arts in general. This program is free. No tickets are necessary. Seats are on a “first come” basis.