*In Trenton, New Jersey in 1952, a few poets met informally in each other's living rooms. Over time the group increased in size, changed its geographical center to Princeton where the University gave it a home in the library. In 1970 the members voted to become part of the New Jersey Poetry Society as the Delaware Valley Poets Chapter. Both these associations were fruitful for DVP, with the library lending its poetry collection and prestigious reputation to the group, while NJPS provided an impetus to sharpen skills.

Group dynamics being what they are, DVP expanded beyond both associations, as it had the living rooms of members three decades before, and became the autonomous organization it is today with a membership drawn from across New Jersey and eastern Pennsylvania. Membership is open to people who share a love for and dedication to poetry, and a commitment to expanding their appreciation for the craft.

Where They Are Now . . .

The organization now offers monthly workshops at the Lawrenceville branch of the Mercer County Public Library at Route 1 and Darrah Lane. Each month they sponsor a free poetry reading, open to the public, at the Princeton Barnes & Noble, in MarketFair on Route 1.  These readings include well-known guest poets, along with DVP's own members, as featured readers, followed by open readings.

DVP, as a group, has four collections of poetry to its credit: Footpath, Stones and Poets, A Hard Turn, and their current anthology, A Different Latitude. The poets represented in these collections come from a wide base of talent including past and present members and also other poets who have shared their talent in public readings sponsored by DVP. They included a Pulitzer Prize winner, National Endowment for the Arts recipients, Guggenheim Fellows, a Ginsberg Award winner, and recipients of other awards too numerous to list. The editors aimed to publish not just famous poets, but great poetry, thus work was gathered from those who publish a lot or a little, or even from those who have never published before.

Members of DVP are often available to visit schools and organizations in the community to promote poetry. Please contact us with any questions or special requests.

*Much of this text was excerpted from Patricia Celley Groth's introduction to DVP's third anthology, A Hard Turn.