The Belfast Poetry Festival marks its 13th year with what organizers call an “all-arts festival,” which features poetry and includes a variety show, short film festival, art exhibition and literary showcase. All events will take place on Oct. 14 at Troy A. Howard Middle School, and the centerpiece is an evening of poetry, visual arts and performing arts collaborations involving 13 poets, five visual artists and two groups of performing artists. All events are free and open to the public.

Portland-born author Seth Rogoff will read from his novel, “First, the Raven: A Preface,” at 7 p.m. Sept. 8 at Print: A Bookstore on Munjoy Hill in Portland. Rogoff, who lives in Prague, writes about a rendezvous, after 20 years apart, between childhood friends translator Sy Kirschbaum and playwright Gabe Slatky inside a Maine bar during a blizzard. Kirschbaum has devoted his professional life to translating an epic Czech novel and has been summoned back to his hometown by his former lover, Ida, who is also Slatky’s wife.

Former Maine Poet Laureate Wesley McNair of Mercer tours Maine to promote his latest collection of poetry, “The Unfastening.” Published by David R. Godine, the book combines sorrow, humor and joy and asks the question: When faced with conflict and struggle, how do you fasten yourself back down again? McNair will read from the book at 7 p.m. Sept. 20 at Patten Free Library, Bath; 6:30 p.m. Oct. 17, Portland Public Library; 4 p.m. Oct. 27, Robinson Room, Miller Library, Colby College, Waterville; 7 p.m. Nov. 2, Merrill Library, Yarmouth. The reading at Colby coincides with the launch of a new Colby website about the making of the “The Unfastening.”