Pages : Well Versed in Their Readings

If you love poetry--and even if you don’t--the Los Angeles Poetry Festival that begins Sunday is for you.

It’s designed to appeal to everyone, including those who think Shelley is the first name of a comedian who starred on “Cheers.”

“If they’re introduced to poetry the right way, they’ll love it,” says festival director Suzanne Lummis.

“The poetry is presented with a verve and joy for the art. People in the festival love the written word and love to perform. This is all live. We’re incorporating other arts (and) at two events, we’ll have music. This is not a stuffed-shirt affair.”

The festival’s $3,000 grand prize will be presented on Halloween to Eloise Klein Healy of Los Angeles by Philip Levine, winner of the American Book Award.

The ceremony, at 12:30 p.m. at the Japanese Village Plaza, will be part of the eight days of events that include readings by black, Latino, gay and lesbian poets.

There will also be food and book fairs. Meanwhile, soap opera stars read their favorite poems at 6671 Sunset Blvd. at 5 p.m. Sunday.

Poetry, theater and music will be combined at 432 N. Fairfax Ave. at 8 p.m. Monday. And poets will read scary poems at 412 S. Parkview St. the evening after Halloween at 7. Information: (818) 899-7209.