Ben Moorad
The cofounder of Write Around Portland (WRAP) presents one long narrative poem, Fire, Nehalem Falls, and several thematically similar shorter poems. Ogle, 310 NW Broadway, 227-4333, 7 pm, $5-10
* The Harper's Arrow
Sarah Dougher has a PhD in comparative literature, teaches ancient history at Linfield College, and is heavily involved with the Rock N' Roll Camp for Girls. This rather unusual blend of interests explains her epic project The Harper's Arrow, a cycle of 24 rock/pop/folk songs inspired by Homer's Odyssey. Pacific Switchboard, 4637 N Albina, 233-2787, 7 pm, $8
* Romulus Linney
A bona fide legend of contemporary theater, Linney is one of the most prolific and successful American playwrights still living. We're lucky to have him tonight, and we'll be even luckier in January when the Profile Theater Project presents the world premiere of his new play Klonsky and Schwartz. Powell's City of Books, 1005 W Burnside St., 228-4651, 7:30 pm, free
* Holiday Fundraiser
A bunch of cool readings, a silent auction, and a crepe dinner. Listen to the likes of Sniffy Linings Press guy Paul Ash, Puppetry wiz Nancy Aldrich, poet David Abel, and more, and bid on cool prizes like a year's of worth of color negative processing at Blue Moon Camera, and a DVD of Peripheral Produce's greatest film shorts. Awesome! La Palabra Cafe-Press, 4810 NE Garfield, 6 pm
* The Perpetual Motion Roadshow
The literary punk movement hits full stride with appearances by Joe Meno, Tyler Clark Burke, and Todd Taylor. See My What A Busy Week, pg 19. Reading Frenzy, 921 SW Oak, 274-1449, 7 pm, free
* A WRAP Reading
Write Around Portland keeps on kicking, with a reading from the low-income, socially isolated writers who benefited from its workshops this fall. Plus! The unveiling of the new WRAP anthology. WRAP, at the First Congregational Church, 1126 SW Park, 796-9224, 6 pm, by donation
* David Biespiel
Biespiel's been everywhere lately, and for good reason. He is a true poetic innovator, with a patented nine-line style he calls American sonnet that is both lyrical and exhilarating to read. He'll share his new collection Wild Civility. Powell's Books on Hawthorne, 3723 SE Hawthorne Blvd, 238-1668, 7:30 pm, free
