AMESBURY - A burning interest in Quaker poet John Greenleaf Whittier has inspired a recording artist who grew up in Dover, N.H., to highlight the verses he believes many people have lost sight of over the years.

And with 2007 marking Whittier's 200th birthday, Michael Maglaras, founder of 217 Records, feels it is the perfect time to help people rediscover what he describes as Whittier's illuminating poetry.

Whittier was born in Haverhill and spent most of his later life in Amesbury, writing poetry about New England subjects and situations. He died in 1892, yet Maglaras said his name continues to live on, especially in the New England area.

"He is one of the most important people in America," said Maglaras, who has set out to record Whittier's poetry in a three-part series of CDs. "But not a whole lot of people read his work and we need to revisit that."

Passion resonates from Maglaras' voice as he speaks about Whittier's famed piece, "Snow-Bound." "It is to poetry what Beethoven's 'Ninth Symphony' is to music," he said. "No word is out of place. It's completely from the heart, truly incomparable work."

To honor Whittier's 200th birthday, Maglaras is sponsoring events throughout the year. On Feb. 15, he will read "Snow-Bound" at a program at Amesbury Middle School's Performing Arts Center.

Written in Amesbury in 1865, "Snow-Bound" is a narrative describing a tremendous blizzard that trapped Whittier's entire family at home for several days, forcing them to get to know each other better. As the family gathers in front of the fireplace, they begin telling their own life stories and revealing their true character.

The poem sold 20,000 copies within the first few months after its release in 1866, recording sales that Maglaras said does not happen with poems today. A second edition was put out a year later, selling about 2,000 copies. "It's a masterpiece with a capital 'M,'" Maglaras said.

"Just imagine a poet having that kind of influence on so many people," he said. "He clearly was just a fascinating poet and person."

Maglaras believes that to truly understand and appreciate the beauty of Whittier's poems, they must be read aloud. Next week's reading of "Snow-Bound" is an encore of one he gave last year at the Amesbury Cultural Center on the 140th anniversary of the poem's publication.

The poem takes 50 minutes to read. Audiencegoers are encouraged to bring along a copy of the poem, which can be printed out from Maglaras' Web site, www.two17records.com, and read along as Maglaras recites each verse.

Maglaras is so committed to seeing poetry read aloud that he is sponsoring a poetry reading contest for Amesbury High School students. Twenty students will get the chance to read their favorite Whittier poems aloud on May 1. Maglaras will judge the students on their pronunciation, a clear understanding of the text, their presence and their ability to portray the poet's feelings and ideas to the audience. The winner will receive $750.

Maglaras will attend a speech class at Amesbury High School next week to give students performance tips. He will return on April 11 for a master class for students signed up for the contest. Maglaras is covering all expenses for the contest in hopes of seeing students exposed to Whittier's work.

He will also continue his efforts to bring Whittier's verses to as many people as possible during the bicentennial year of his birth. Last month, Maglaras released the second of three planned CDs in his Whittier Bicentennial Recording Project. Titled "Barbara Frietchie & Other Poems," the collection features 12 of Whittier's poems, including "The Pressed Gentian," "Burning Driftwood" and "The Barefoot Boy," all read by Maglaras.

Although Whittier wrote about subjects that occurred so long ago, Maglaras said all of his ideas can be used and expanded on today.

"He brings home that he's a man of his time," Maglaras said. "But he's also a person of our time if we let him speak to us."

IF YOU GO

* WHAT: Reading of John Greenleaf Whittier's "Snow-Bound" commemorating the 200th anniversary of the birth of the Quaker poet from Amesbury and Haverhill

* WHEN: Thursday, Feb. 15, from 6 to 9 p.m. (Snow date Friday, Feb. 16, at 7 p.m.)

* WHERE: Amesbury Middle School Performing Arts Center, 222 Main St., Amesbury

* HOW: Free admission. Visit www.two17records.com.