REAMS OF RHYMES

The Poets House Showcase, now in its 15th year, is a display of nearly every new book of poetry published in America. This year’s exhibit includes approximately 2,000 titles. Opening party: Saturday, April 2, 4 p.m. members preview, 5-7 p.m. general admission. Exhibit: Through Saturday, April 30, Tuesday-Friday, 11 a.m.-7 p.m., Saturday, 11 a.m.-4 p.m., Poets House, 72 Spring St., between Lafayette and Crosby streets, second floor, 212-431-7920, free.

WHITMAN SAMPLER

The editor of the newly abridged “Leaves of Grass: First and Death Bed Editions” (Barnes & Noble), Karen Karbiener, joins the Walt Whitman Project’s Lon Black for a reading of selections from “Leaves of Grass”(8 p.m., required free tickets available at 7 p.m.).The reading is part of the all-ages “First Saturday” event, which this month focuses on Whitman. Saturday, April 2, 5-11 p.m., Brooklyn Museum, 200 Eastern Parkway at Washington Avenue, Brooklyn, 718-638-5000, free.

LONG ISLAND LEAVES

The Walt Whitman Birthplace on Long Island plays host to a marathon reading of “Leaves of Grass.” Drop-ins are welcome, but finicky Whitman-ites should call ahead to reserve their chance to read a favorite section of the first edition. Readers should bring their own breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Sunday, April 3, 9 a.m.-9 p.m., Walt Whitman Birthplace State Historic Site, 246 Old Walt Whitman Road, West Hills, N.Y., 631-427-5240, $3 general, $1 members.

QUEENS FOR A DAY

The poet laureate of Queens, Ishle Yi Park, is among many readers at the seventh-anniversary celebration for louder MONDAYS, a series that showcases local spoken word performers. Monday, April 4, 7 p.m., 13 Bar Lounge, 35 E. 13th St. at University Place, second floor, 212-979-6677, $5 general, $4 students.

POEMS ON STAGE

Meryl Streep, Liam Neeson, Diane von Furstenberg, Maya Lin, Dan Rather, and Gore Vidal read their favorite poems at “Poetry and the Creative Mind,” a benefit for the Academy of American Poets. Tuesday, April 5, 6:30 p.m., Lincoln Center, Alice Tully Hall, West 65th Street near Columbus Avenue, 212-721-6500 general, 212-274-0343 ext. 34 VIP tickets, $35-$75 general, $400 includes VIP dinner.

SURGICAL PRECISION

The poet, and New York Sun book critic, Adam Kirsch participates in a panel discussion about his new book, “The Wounded Surgeon: Confession and Transformation in Six American Poets” (W.W. Norton). The book explores the lives and work of the “middle generation” poets Robert Lowell, Elizabeth Bishop, Sylvia Plath, John Berryman, Randall Jarrell, and Delmore Schwartz. Tuesday, April 12, Housing Works Used Book Cafe, 126 Crosby St., between Houston and Prince streets, 212-334-3324, free, used book donations encouraged.

WHO WANTS TO BE A POET?

Among the Poetry Project’s many excellent April events, the “Poetry Game Show” is distinguished by its silliness. Douglas Rothschild plays Alex Trebek at the event, with categories including “Name the Poet,” “Fictionary,” and “Whose Novel Is This Anyway?” Bethany Spiers provides live music. Friday, April 15, 10:30 p.m., Poetry Project at St. Mark’s Church, 131 E. 10th St. at Second Avenue, 212-674-0910, $8 general, $7 seniors and students, $5 members.

SAFARI SONNETS

The Bronx Zoo’s “Poetry Safari” weekend includes children’s poetry readings, large-scale magnetic poetry, and readings by Jean Marzollo (Saturday only) and Mary Ann Hoberman (Sunday only). Saturday and Sunday, April 16 and 17, 11 a.m.-4 p.m., Bronx Zoo, Bronx River Parkway and Fordham Road, Bronx, 718-367-1010, $11 general, $8 seniors and children under 12.

WHITMAN IN BROOKLYN

The Brooklyn Philharmonic, which Walt Whitman reviewed during the 19th century, performs “Brooklyn’s Ode to Joy.” The piece is a juxtaposition of Beethoven’s “Ode to Joy” with Jennifer Higdon’s song cycle based on Whitman’s poem “When Lilacs Last in the Dooryard Bloom’d.” Saturday, April 16, 8 p.m., Brooklyn Academy of Music, Howard Gilman Opera House, 30 Lafayette St., between Ashland Place and St. Felix Street, 718-636-4100, $20-$60.

HOT POCKETS

New Yorkers who bring a favorite verse to Bryant Park on “Poem in Your Pocket Day” receive a free book of poetry courtesy of the Academy of American Poets. Thursday, April 21, 11 a.m.-2 p.m., Bryant Park Reading Room, 40th Street between Fifth and Sixth avenues, free.

POETRY AND POLITICS

The winner of 1992 Nobel Prize in literature, Derek Walcott, discusses poetry and cultural politics with the poetry editor of the New Republic, Glyn Maxwell. Poets House cosponsors the talk. Tuesday, April 26, 7 p.m., New York Public Library, Celeste Bartos Forum, Fifth Avenue and 42nd Street, 212-930-0855, $10.

FROSTY RECEPTION

Marie Ponsot delivers the Frost Lecture at the Poetry Society of America’s 95th annual awards ceremony. A reception follows. Thursday, April 28, 7 p.m., New School, Tishman Auditorium, 66 W. 12th St., between Fifth and Sixth avenues, 212-254-9628, $10 general, $7 members and students.

To submit an event for consideration for the Calendar, please wire the particulars to calendar@nysun.com, placing the date of the event in the subject line.