Music, poetry and sharks.

It’s not a frequent combination, but on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. Martha’s Vineyard poet laureate Lee H. McCormack will read a poem at JawsFest to draw attention to the plight of sharks and to protect aquatic ecosystems. The anticipated audience exceeds 5,000 people, which would rank this event the most attended poetry reading in Island history.

Mr. McCormack will be joined by Wendy Benchley, widow of Jaws author Peter Benchley, who is president of the Board of Shark Savers.

Native American flautist William Waterway opens the event with percussion accompaniment by Stephen J. Hart.

The reading takes place at JawsFest in Ocean Park, and is followed by an outdoor screening of Jaws.