The Poets Have Taken Governors Island

Aspiring poets working up the courage to try an open mic. A couple on a surprise date. At least one veteran of verse looking for inspiration to help get through a dry spell. And far more than one person selling poetry collections.

A tranquil green expanse on Governors Island enveloped by yellow 19th-century houses was transformed into a scene of creative exchange last weekend as poets and poetry lovers descended on Nolan Park for the 13th annual New York City Poetry Festival, hosted by the nonprofit Poetry Society of New York.

Professional poets, first-time poets and many falling somewhere in between gathered at the two-day festival to take in one another’s verse in the sweltering, leafy outdoors.

Lyrics and impassioned rhymes echoed from the festival’s various stages across the lawn as poets — some whispering and subdued, others roaring their words across the park — shared their art with the city.

“It is for everyone, no matter if you started writing poetry 10 minutes ago or 10 years ago,” said Tova Greene, the festival’s organizer, adding that it was meant to be “a space for people to have that ‘aha, eureka!’ moment of ‘poetry is not dead, it’s here, it’s alive, it’s everywhere.’”