If you're a lover of poetry, you understand the power of language to seize the audience, whether the poet is compelled to speak in concise, sensitive terms on beauty or politics or existence. And you also know that it must be read aloud. Rochester's thriving poetry scene will welcome four legendary Beat poets from both coasts this week for the free "An Evening of Radical Poetry" at the Flying Squirrel Community Space (285 Clarissa Street).

On Friday, September 10, 7-9 p.m., enjoy live readings by Rochester-born David Meltzer, poet and musician of the Beat Generation and San Francisco Renaissance; Janine Pommy Vega, who joined Allen Ginsberg and the Beats in New York City as a teenager; Rochesterian Sam Abrams, a poet active in the 1960's St. Marks Poetry Project and professor emeritus of the RIT English department; and S.F. Bay-area New Beat poet, songwriter, novelist, eco-activist and editor of Big Bridge, Michael Rothenberg. The readings will be accompanied by jazzy blues tunes by The Overcompensators. For more information, visit flyingsquirrel.rocus.org.