In the quieter corners of Sonoma County culture, you’ll find unsuspected gems almost anywhere you look.

One of those treasures is the Word Temple Poetry Series, organized and launched by Katherine Hastings five years ago.

The series kicks off 2011 with ‘Translation Night,’ dedicated to the artful translation of poetry, from the Bible to French literature, at 7 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 26, at the Sebastopol Center for the Arts, 6780 Depot St., Sebastopol.

Poet and former Sebastopol city councilman Larry Robinson opens the program, which features Willis Barnstone and Janine Canan.

Barnstone is the author of many books of translations, memoirs, literary criticism and poetry, including “The Complete Poems of Sappho,” “The Greek Lyric Poets,” “Sonnets to Orpheus” and “The Poetics of Translation.”

He will present his latest publication, “The Restored New Testament — A New Translation with Commentary, Including the Gnostic Gospels Thomas, Mary and Judas” (Norton, 2010).

Canan, the award-winning author of 17 books of poetry, anthologies, translations, stories and essays, Canan will present her latest publication, “Under the Azure — Poems of Francis Jammes.”

Information: wordtemple.com.