The Poshard Poetry Tour “Beginnings and Endings”

2 p.m. Sunday, June 22, 2025
Doors at 1 p.m.

Free but donations in support of feeding hungry children will be accepted

In a one-hour reading of his own poetry, as well as that of his favorite poets, Glenn Poshard explores life’s “Beginnings and Endings” in word and song. The Poshard Poetry Tour begins Sunday, June 22, at 2 p.m. at the Varsity. Doors open at 1 p.m.

Poshard, a son of Southern Illinois, was an educator and former politician who served as an Illinois State Senator and U.S. Congressman, serving five terms in Congress from 1989 to 1999. He was also an Illinois gubernatorial candidate and president of the Southern Illinois University system.

Poshard will be touring southern and central Illinois in support of local food pantries. Admission to the presentation of powerful poetry readings and music is free, but he hopes patrons will donate to a local food pantry to support hungry children. A local food pantry volunteer will be on hand to receive all donations. The donations are tax deductible.

Poshard has been working his entire life to support the needs of poor and hungry children, starting with his work in a Korean orphanage when he was only 18-years-old. He has a goal of raising $500,000 for local food pantries by Christmas. The money will be used to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables for hungry children.

All the poems Poshard shares evoke in us the most powerful human emotions and challenge us to grapple with life’s deepest questions about love, courage, faith, passion, joy and, finally, death itself. The music he sings gives greater depth to the poetry he so powerfully shares. You cannot go away from this reading without feeling the spiritual ebb and flow of life’s embrace. You will be moved. It is a cultural event that you will never forget.