When he was young, local poet William Walsh had dreams of becoming a rock star.

Alas, he had no musical skills, he says. He became a writer instead.

Jon Rou (ENLARGE)
Natasha Trethewey will read from 'Under the Rock Umbrella.'
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ANTHOLOGY EXCERPTS "Lit on the Bricks" Author William Walsh, 2007 Pulitzer Prize poet Natasha Trethewey and six other poets included in Walsh's anthology "Under the Rock Umbrella: Contemporary Poets from 1951-1977" read excerpts. 4-6:30 p.m. Sunday. $10; free for ages 18 and younger. The courtyard at Henry W. Grady High School, 929 Charles Allen Drive N.E., Atlanta. 404-417-0762, www.gradyhsfoundation.org.

On Sunday, excerpts from his anthology "Under the Rock Umbrella: Contemporary Poets from 1951-1977" will be read during "Lit on the Bricks," a poetry event at Henry W. Grady High School.

The collection is by poets born during the height of the rock music era.

"They are not rock poems," said Walsh, 47. "But if you were born during those years, you could not avoid being influenced by rock music — from Elvis to the Beatles."

The anthology won the Sandy Springs poet a Georgia Writers Association Author of the Year award.

Seven other poets featured in the book, including 2007 Pulitzer Prize winner Natasha Trethewey, are scheduled to read for the crowd.

If you go, feel free to dress for the occasion.

"Parents have a chance to squeeze into their patchwork bell-bottoms," says Julie Bookman, from the Grady High School Foundation, which is presenting the event. "It's a throwback to rock 'n' roll music."

The Varsity will provide food, and Jake's Ice Cream will feature its special Hippy Chocolate Chippy flavor.

The outdoor event spotlights National Poetry Month and brings awareness to the foundation as it works to build a student writing center for the school, Bookman said.

POESY POTPOURRI

More upcoming events

• Poets Albert Goldbarth and Quincy Troupe read their works at the Clary Theatre, Student Success Center. 7 p.m. Thursday. Georgia Tech, 225 North Ave. NW, Atlanta. 404-894-0870, www.poetry.gatech.edu.

• Entertainment-themed poems and other readings performed during Wordsmiths Books' open mike. 7:30 p.m. Friday; sign-up at 7. 545 N. McDonough St. (new location), Decatur. 404-378-7166, www.wordsmithsbooks.com.

• Louise Runyon and Alice Lovelace read from their latest books, discuss arts and activism. 7:30 p.m. April 24. Free. Charis Books & More, 1189 Euclid Ave., Atlanta. 404-522-9912, www.charisbooksandmore.com.

• Tamara Madison and Company performs "Crux," which focuses on South Africa. 7:30 p.m. April 25. Wordsmiths Books, 545 N. McDonough St., Decatur. 404-378-7166, www.wordsmithsbooks.com.

• Apache Cafe's open mike poetry slam is first Sunday every month. 7 p.m. sign-up; show at 8. $7 admission. 64 3rd St. N.W., Atlanta. 404-876-5426, www.apachecafe.info.

• Spoken word on open mike (with adult content) at Java Monkey. 8 p.m. Sundays. No cover. 425 Church St., Decatur. 404-378-5002. javamonkeydecatur.com.