Neil Hilborn ‘About Time’ release show

The Poetry Room has invited North Carolina-based poet Neil Hilborn, whom it last hosted in April, to perform Saturday evening (Nov. 9) at the Robin Theatre in REO Town. The event will celebrate the release of Hilborn’s third poetry collection, “About Time,” which focuses on the struggle to maintain positive mental health during recent global crises.

“With his distinctly conversational tone and dark humor, Hilborn breaks down the cycle of mental illness — small improvements, setbacks and the process of recovery,” a description of the book on the publisher’s website reads. “This collection fights against itself as the poems try to find a place for hope, love and goodness in a lonely, terrifying world, ultimately inspiring belief in and connection to all the small joys that we can find.”

In addition to Hilborn, several special guests from Michigan’s spoken-word scene will perform, including former Lansing Poet Laureate and founder of the Poetry Room Masaki Takahashi; Detroit poets and educators Ashley Adams, also known as Galaxy the Poet, and Robert Cohen Jr., also known as RJMC; and Michigan State University Poetry Club president Claire Donohoe.

Guests are invited to bring their own beverages from Sleepwalker Spirits and Ale, which is located next door to the venue. Tickets are $21 and can be purchased at therobintheatre.com.