Civilization’s great writers — poets, playwrights or essayists — have had much to say about the art of poetry over the centuries — its form, its meaning, its place in literature and life. Among them:

Thomas Carlyle –“A vein of poetry exists in the hearts of all men.”

W.H. Auden — “Every poem is rooted in imaginative awe.”

Wallace Stevens — “Poetry is a purging of the world’s poverty and change and evil and death.”

Matthew Arnold — “Poetry is simply the most beautiful, impressive and wisely effective mode of saying things.”

This weekend, the writers of Whidbey — poets, essayists, storytellers — will join these notable literary figures in their own tribute to poetry. Some poems will be the readers’ own, others will be the works of poets who have left the readers thoughtful, inspired or touched.

This celebration of poetry will include more than 25 Whidbey Island poets, musicians and storytellers, come together to mark National Poetry Month.

“Poetry can be a listening to the sacred part of ourselves, to the truths that lay beyond the limits of language,” writes Jeanne Lanigan. “When we listen to a poem that resonates deep within our body, it is as if our very soul awakens to the essence of the poem and our spirit takes flight.”

Lanigan has been a prime organizer of the Saturday event. She has published a book of poems, “Along The Journey,” and also penned a memorial poem named “Victory Over Violence,” which she read to the more than 100 people gathered for a candlelight memorial vigil in Langley Park following the tragedy of Sept. 11.

Lanigan will perform together with Judith Adams, Joni Takanikos and Beth Shinners-White in Blending Voices, Blending Poets, accompanied by the music of Greg Garbarino, Marilyn Strong Lyn Mizono and Jackie Robins.

“Music starts our program and sometimes is woven within it as well,” Lanigan said. “We read a blend of the poems and poets that we love, from a wide collection of poets, known, less known, and our own. Our program Saturday will be focused on poetry and poets, and spring, too.”

The celebration will open with a ceremony in which Anahata Pomeroy will “call in the Muses, Spirits and Writers of All Worlds,” and James Budinick will perform an “All World Chant.”

Special guest reader at the event is Peggy Shumaker, who was one of the presenters at the Whidbey Island Writers Conference in March.

“She was a delight to work with at the conference, and her poetry literally brought tears to people’s eyes at the conference poetry reading,” said Celeste Mergens, conference organizer.

An internationally noted poet, Shumaker has published four collections of poems not only in the United States but also in Russia, Japan, Australia and Canada. She has given readings, lectures and workshops all over the country. She has done community work with prison inmates, gifted students, gang members, elderly writers, first-time adult readers, Alaska natives, Native American communities and many literacy groups.

“Peggy has also done community workshops and events in urban and rural areas, in bookstores, libraries, community centers, galleries, banks, literacy centers, coffeehouses, gyms, theaters, nursing homes, barracks, clearings in woods, a governor’s mansion and an abandoned store,” Lanigan said.

Shumaker was a professor in the MFA Program at University of Alaska Fairbanks, and has now moved to Whidbey Island with her husband.

“I thought she was fantastic, a great teacher, and I love her poetry,” Lanigan said. “I will love introducing her to our community.”

Others who will read at Saturday’s poetry celebration will need less or no introduction.

Victory Schouten of Greenbank is not only one of the island’s favorite poets, she also, with husband Rob Schouten, brought the art of Tibetan orphans to Whidbey last summer. She is the author of a book of poems called “Wolf Love.”

Other published poets who will be reading include Judith Adams, author of “Scarlet Apples You Cannot Eat,” “Looking For a Fairy,” “The HedgeHogs” and “Midnight Milking.” Susan Scott has published “Songs of Love and Woe.”

Readers such as David Ossman — who will be joined by sons Devin and Orson Ossman — are well- known performers. A member of the Emmy Award-nominated “Firesign Theater,” Ossman has also appeared in many dramatic productions here on the island, most recently as Mark Twain in “The Winter Visit” at WICA.

Another family affair includes Joni Takanikos, Barton Cole and son Max Cole. And there are more familiar names — Jane Winslow, Marjiann Moss, Robin Barre, Helena Farkas, Colleen Lawson and others — who will take part in this afternoon dedicated to the poem.

Music — itself a poetic art — will weave through the presentations Saturday, and as the afternoon winds to a close, Lanigan will read from the poems of Rumi, the poet and scholar who founded the Mevlevi Order of dervishes, better known as the Whirling Dervishes of Sufism.

The story of Anahata and the Dances of Universal Peace will end the celebration.