Join us at Congressional Cemetery for an afternoon of poetry with Fred Zirm and his book “Rescue Dogs”. “Rescue Dogs” explores the multitude of lessons Zirm learned throughout his life from the dogs he rescued, taking us on a journey through life, love, friendship, aging, death, and resilience with his dogs Carabelle, Dory, Larry, Woofer, Trey, and Snuffles. Ultimately, Zirm asks us to ponder the question: Who rescued whom?

Sunday, November 10th, at 1 PM, we will join in Congressional Cemetery’s chapel to engage in poetry about some of our most loved family members, our pets.

Beginning with a Meet and Greet, snacks provided, there will be readings, Q&A, and an open mic opportunity to share works about our pets.

If you are comfortable, please bring your own writings and thoughts about your pets– poetry encouraged!

Reserve your Spot for this Event HERE!

Meet Fred Zirn

After earning a B.A. and M. A. in English from Michigan State and an M.F.A. from the Playwrights Workshop at the University of Iowa, Fred Zirm was an English and drama teacher at Landon, an independent boy’s school in Bethesda, for nearly 40 years. Since his retirement in 2014, he has continued to direct plays at local community theaters. His most recent productions include As You Like It with the British Players in Kensington, MD; Sondheim’s Assassins at Silver Spring Stage, and a youth production of Seussical Jr. the Musical at the Arts Barn in Gaithersburg.

During his retirement, Fred has also focused more on his writing. His poems, as well as some flash fiction and creative non-fiction, have appeared in over a dozen magazines and anthologies, and he has been a Pushcart Prize nominee. In 2021, he published his first book of poetry, Object Lessons. His second book, Rescue Dogs, is rooted in what he has learned about and from the six very different dogs his family has adopted.

Fred lives in Rockville with his wife, Robin, and daughter, Sara, and enjoys cycling, kayaking, and spending summers in Chautauqua, NY.