Carol Clarke has been writing poems for 30 years.

The local poet is part of a night of poetry and song that will take place in Hamilton on Saturday.

She was part of the first event held here in 1996 and found herself in a car with Roland Flint, once poet laureate of Maryland.

An older gentleman also in the car, passed her a slip of paper with his planned introduction for their honoured guest.

“I said, no, you cannot do that because I do not stand for things like that,” she recalled. “You’ll have to do something different.

“They all smiled, surprised to see this little girl telling this man what to do. But he followed my instructions and gave the best introduction ever.”

The event cemented her interest in poetry. Ms Clarke loves mixing various rhythms and sounds.

“I write all kinds, rhythm and rhyme, acrostic poems,” she told Lifestyle. She chose verse by American poet, Susan Polis Schutz for her audience in 1996.

“I wasn’t sure at first what I was going to read, but after I finished the poet laureate’s wife said she would have given me an A for the reading,” Ms Clarke said.

On Saturday she will introduce the event’s master of ceremonies, Leo Mills. Ms Clarke said the theme of the evening is “Much comes out of little” — it’s a line taken from her own verse.

“I just write when I get the urge,” she said. “I don’t worry about any social ills or anything like that. I’m a community-oriented person.”

This year’s event is in collaboration with David Thompson of Bermuda Overseas Missions. Ms Clarke has been a volunteer with BOM for four years and organises the annual seniors’ party. Any funds raised will be split between the two causes.

The 57-year-old, who runs the family business Clarke’s Tuxedo Shop on North Shore, has been a church pianist for more than 40 years. She started out at her own church, Bethel AME near Shelly Bay.

“My great-aunt taught me how to play, starting when I was four years old. I used to live with her on the weekends,” she said.

“I’d get upset when the other children were outside playing and I had to be inside practising music, but it’s paid off.”

She added with a laugh: “I can use it to get a few dollars these days. Every year gets better and better.”

A night of poetry and song will take place at Cathedral Hall on Church Street on Saturday at 7pm.

Tickets are available at the door: $50 patrons; $20, general admission. Seniors, and children under 13, $5.