— Poets worldwide took part in readings Wednesday to protest the pending war with Iraq.
Some events were set in Canada, where several poets have been adding their voices to the movement against the war.
In Washington, poets brought their anti-war verse to Congress on Wednesday, handing lawmakers thousands of poems to protest pending military action in Iraq.
The group called Poets Against the War evolved from one poet's refusal in January to attend a poetry symposium with first lady Laura Bush.
American poet Sam Hamill later called on fellow poets to voice opposition to the war. Many of those asked to appear at the symposium responded, and the White House indefinitely postponed the event.
A Web site for the group went up up soon after, collecting more than 13,000 poems and statements from amateur and professional writers opposed to the war. A selection of works from almost 200 poets will be published in April and dedicated to the first lady, Mr. Hamill told Associated Press.
Three former U.S. poet laureates and nine current state poet laureates are among the contributors to the Web site.
