Submitted by Debra Lee Babcock.

There’s so much to consider right now about the possibility of expanding our capacity to love, isn’t there? Join local artist and writer Debra Lee Babcock and beloved poet Jill McCabe Johnson to stay up late on a Wednesday, Feb. 14 listening to what some of the great poets, writers, and thinkers have had to say on the subject.

“Let’s Talk About Love” will be held from 7 to 10 p.m. in the Madrona Room of Orcas Center. The event is by donation. Hot cider and tea is provided. Bring your own mug and something easy to share if you like.

Let’s hear from people like Mary Oliver, John O’Donahue, Maya Angelou, Nelson Mandela, Martin Luther King, or bring your own favorite…maybe Winnie the Pooh, or your own words. Let’s not stop at chocolates and roses this year, let’s go beyond, to our deep longing, our knowing, of something vaster. Let’s be inspired, and create a Valentine’s Day for our souls to remember.

There are six scheduled readers, plus 8 open mike sign-up slots, 5-6 minutes each. Come with your friends, your beloveds, your own great self.

Debra Lee Babcock: artist, writer, Art & Word Studio, teacher of Intentional Creativity, member of the San Juan Makers Guild and the Orcas Island Studio Tour, producing board member of the Orcas Island Lit Fest, and this year’s WA state inter-island ferry Writer-in-Residence.

Jill McCabe Johnson: author of three books, two chapbooks, and editor of three anthologies. Most recent poetry collection, Tangled in Vow & Beseech, named a finalist for the Sally Albiso and Wheelbarrow Books poetry prizes, due out this spring from MoonPath Press. Jill is editor-in-chief of Wandering Aengus Press and its imprint, Trail to Table Press. www.JillMcCabeJohnson.com.