Celebrating Fifty Years of Capitol Hill Poetry

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The Capitol Hill Poetry Group began on the Hill in 1975, when a group of poets came together to share and critique their work. To mark our 50th Anniversary, we are publishing The Other Side of the Hill—1975-2025, the 3rd anthology of our poems, and invite you to join us for readings, refreshments, and celebration on Sunday, November 2 at 5PM.

The Capitol Hill Poetry Group formed in 1975, when Sally Crowell, of CHAW, put Jean Nordhaus (author of 8 volumes of poetry, but at the time a fledgling poet) in contact with poet and neighbor Shirley Cochrane. With two others, they began meeting weekly in their homes to share and critique their work. The group, with changes in membership and, since the pandemic, in venue, has met regularly since 1975.

Individual members have published widely in poetry journals and authored numerous books. Current members include Jean Nordhaus, a former director of the poetry programs at the Folger Shakespeare Library, Patricia Gray, who for many years ran the Poet Laureate’s office at the Library of Congress, Mary Ann Larkin, Patric Pepper, and Greg McBride, editor of the respected online poetry journal, Innisfree. Featuring readings by Patricia Gray, Charise Hogue, Mary Ann Larkin, Greg McBride, Nancy Fitz-Hugh Meneely, Jean Nordhaus, Patric Pepper, Noel Salinger, Rosemary Winslow and Anne Harding Woodworth.