Poetry, Place & the Past

Join Extreme History for a special evening where history and poetry come together at Glen Lake Rotary Park. Extreme History Director Crystal Alegria will share the stories that have shaped this landscape, while Montana Poet Laureate Allen Jones will share a special selection of curated poems. As we walk along the park's trail, we'll pause to experience moments of history, reflection, and poetry, offering a fresh way to connect with the land and the stories it holds. Meet at the Rotary Centennial Pavilion.
Current poet laureate for the state of Montana, Allen Morris Jones is widely published across genres and forms. He’s the author of three novels, three children’s books, a highly regarded look at the ethics of hunting, an award-winning collection of poetry, and more than 100 published personal essays, profiles, short stories, and other incidental pieces. His first novel, Last Year’s River, was selected by Barnes and Noble for its Discover Great New Writers program; his second novel, A Bloom of Bones, was recognized as a Montana Book Award honor book. His recent poetry collection, Mumblecusser, was both a High Plains Book Award winner as well as a Montana Book Award honor book. His first children’s book, Montana for Kids, won a Spur Award from the Western Writers of America. He has worked as a magazine editor (Big Sky Journal), as an acquisitions editor (Lyons Press / Globe Pequot Press), small press publisher (Bangtail Press), and as a university Communications Director. He lives in Bozeman, Montana, with his wife and son.