Mark Gibbons is a poet and lifelong resident of Montana. If there is such a thing as a Montana “Place Poet,” he must be one since this is the only place he has ever resided. Married young, he and his wife have lived and worked a variety of jobs on both sides of the Continental Divide, raising their sons in Augusta, Pablo, Ronan, and Missoula. Mark believes “place” is that state of mind we wake up to each morning and walk through till we go to sleep, including the dream time. His presentation will explore how poetry plays an important role in celebrating what it’s like to be alive, here, and how it can nurture our emotional life we often neglect. Poetry can act as a powerful tool for communication and help to develop empathy. Every person is a poet whether they know it or not. Everyone thinks, imagines, feels, and dreams. Mark will share his and others’ poetry to enliven a discussion about place, poetry, and living in Montana.