GREENFIELD — At 15 years old, Shelburne Falls resident Martín Espada, now a nationally renowned poet, wrote his first poem.

At the time, he had no idea it would become the first poem in a lifelong body of work. It was simply a writing assignment for an English class he was determined not to fail for a second time.

“I learned that I loved words,” said Espada, 65, who has since received several national awards, including the Ruth Lilly Poetry Prize, the Shelley Memorial Award and the Robert Creeley Award. “From the very beginning, I had something to say with all those words.”

Eager to “set down roots in this community,” Espada — who moved to the area in 2020, just as the COVID-19 pandemic took hold of the region — will be leading a poetry reading at Greenfield Community College on Wednesday, April 12, from 6 to 7 p.m.

“When I do a public reading, it’s also a way for me to learn about a community,” Espada said. “People come up to me, they talk to me, and when they ask questions or get a book signed, invariably they tell me something about themselves. I have the opportunity to learn something about them and their community.”

This week’s poetry reading, which comes in recognition of National Poetry Month, marks the return of in-person readings sponsored by the Friends of the Archibald MacLeish Collection after several years on pause amid the pandemic.

“We feel very fortunate to be back in person with a poet of Martín’s stature,” said Stephen Poulin, chair of the GCC English Department, which is hosting the event. “I’ve always included one or more of Martín’s poems in my literature classes. ... He’s known to give voice to the marginalized and oppressed, but it is the humanity he gives these figures.”

Poulin said Espada writes poetry that is funny, romantic and insightful. His work deals in large part with issues of social justice, including fighting for human rights and reclaiming the historical record.

“He writes powerful poetry about the Latino experience in the U.S.,” Poulin added. “He doesn’t pull any punches. Really, it’s the life he brings to his figures that give them … staying power.”

Espada said Wednesday’s reading will include work from his book of poems, “Floaters,” which won him the 2021 National Book Award in poetry. The reading will also include some newer work and poems that have been published in various journals.

“I’ve written from my life experience,” he said. “I’m 65, I have plenty of it. … I’ve always written about the people surrounding me — friends, family community. I’m committed to writing about the Latino community, and the Puerto Rican community in general.”

Espada said he hopes his poetry “triggers” the audience’s sense of community and empathy.

“I hope people will hear something that reminds them of their own lives, their own experiences,” he said.

Poulin, meanwhile, said he hopes Espada changes people’s perception of poetry.

“My hope,” Poulin said, “is folks come away fully aware of language as something that can move you emotionally, enlighten you spiritually and get you to reconsider your place in the world today.”

The event, which is sponsored by the Friends of the Archibald MacLeish Collection, is open to the public.

“You are never in doubt where you are in an Espada poem — geographically, politically — but it’s the turn into the heart that will often catch you by surprise,” Poulin said. “It can be delightful. It can be horrific.”

Reporter Mary Byrne can be reached at mbyrne@recorder.com or 413-930-4429. Twitter: @MaryEByrne.

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