MILLER TIME: Even anti-Commie crusader Pope John Paul II has revisited his papal stance on Castro's Cuba. After a recent visit with the 70-year-old dictator at the Vatican, the Pope announced plans to visit Cuba sometime in 1997. And God knows, if the Pope's in on it, you should be too. Update your knowledge of the crumbling world of Communism with local author Tom Miller, who discusses his 1992 book, Trading With the Enemy (Atheneum, $24), at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, December 3, at the Wilmot Branch library, 530 N. Wilmot Road. Far more interesting than anything you're likely to read in the dailies, Trading With the Enemy offers a rare insider's glimpse into the daily life of our forbidden neighbor, in an insightful and anecdotal journey chronicling eight months of travel from Cuba's coastal villages to mountain cities, from the Bay of Pigs to Guantánamo. Admission is free. For information, call 323-1341. POETS LAUREATE: One of the best kept secrets on the local literary scene is the UA Poetry Center's free public reading series, which has brought most of the nation's top poetry talents through our fair burg since its inauguration by none other than Robert Frost back in 1962. Featured in next Wednesday's reading are four of the UA creative writing program's distinguished MFA candidates: Sonoran Review managing editor Hannah Haas, James Marshall, Brandon Nelson and graduate assistant Jerry Williams. Haas describes her work as "generally humorous and influenced by the New York School." Also along the lighthearted vein, Marshall's poetry tries to synthesize science and love, with a twist. Asked to describe his work, he says, "Most are love poems--in a way. For example, one involves mummification and reincarnation." Come see them now in the relaxed atmosphere of the UA Modern Languages Building auditorium on the UA campus. Come semester's end, they'll be too busy looking for jobs to celebrate their accomplishments. (Two out of four readers surveyed had no post-grad prospects.) Reading begins at 8 p.m. Wednesday, December 4, and will be followed by an informal reception. Call 321-7760 for information.

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