From Philadelphia to Erie, and from the shale fields to the coal mines, Keystone Poetry celebrates the varied landscapes and voices of Pennsylvania. This collection brings together the work of 182 poets who, with keen eyes and powerful language, commemorate the hometowns, history, traditions, and culture of the Commonwealth.

Organized geographically, the poems traverse county lines, ancestral lineages, and thematic concerns—as well as gender, racial, and socioeconomic barriers. The poems in this collection seek to bring the reader close to home while fostering the discovery of new places and a deeper understanding of all those who live in the Keystone State.

Keystone Poetry also includes resources for teachers. Drawing from this collection of place-based literature, high school and college educators can use students’ hometown experiences to make disciplines such as literature, composition, creative writing, history, geography, sociology, political science, and psychology more engaging and accessible.

• To delve more deeply into class discussion, see “Let’s Talk About It,” a helpful aid for individual or group reflection.

• To fuel creativity, access “Let’s Write About It,” a practical guide to inspire writers of all levels.

Keystone Poetry Events & Readings Calendar:

5/23/25 Bellefonte, PA: The Print Factory @ 6:00pm

6/1/25 Williamsport, PA: Lycoming Arts Gallery @1:00pm

6/1/25 Langhorne, PA: Langhorne Peace Center @2 pm

6/11/25 Lititz, PA: Lititz Shirt Factory @ 7:00pm

6/17/25 Philadelphia PA: The Free Library of Philadelphia @ 5:30pm

7/20/25 Pittsburgh PA: City of Asylum Bookstore @ 3pm

7/27/25 VIRTUAL: Moonstone Arts @ 2pm

8/8/25 Wilkes-Barre PA: Word to Word Reading Series @ 7pm

9/12/25 University Park PA: Paterno Library @ 4pm