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Welcome to the schedule of poetry events happening in Massachusetts! This schedule contains events happening all over the state, as entered by our Poetry Partners and others. It is not limited to Mass Poetry events. To submit an event, click here. For more questions regarding our calendar, you can email marketing@masspoetry.org
strong>Eastern MA [clear filter]
Sunday, August 27
 

2:00pm EDT

Poetry on the Manse
Sunday August 27, 2023 2:00pm - 3:00pm EDT
Join the New England Poetry Club outdoors in the open air tent at the Old Manse for free poetry readings on Sunday, 8/27.
Sponsoring poetry in New England since 1915, the New England Poetry Club presents readings by poets with ties to the New England states and annual poetry contests. Members of the NEPC benefit from being part of a community of poets, gathering for readings by members with new books, and participating in monthly writing workshops.

August Poets:
  • Cynthia Bargar
  • Tom Laughlin
  • Jess Levens
Register here. 
Sunday August 27, 2023 2:00pm - 3:00pm EDT
The Old Manse
 
Thursday, September 14
 

7:00pm EDT

Pour Me a Poem (Open Mic & Lynne Viti Feature Reading)
Thursday September 14, 2023 7:00pm - 9:00pm EDT
Poets Wayne-Daniel Berard and Sara Letourneau are hosting the Pour Me a Poem open mic on the second Thursday of each month at 51 Park Street (Wayne-Daniel's home) in Mansfield, MA, from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. The next one will be on Thursday, September 14, 2023. Lynne Viti of Westwood will be our feature poet.

After the feature poet, there will be a quick break, followed by the main open mic. You can sign up for your time slot upon arrival. The event is free, but please bring a few bucks for when we "pass the hat" for the feature poet.

Please ensure you are fully vaccinated for COVID-19 before attending. Also, please make sure you park on the even-numbered side of the street, opposite from Wayne-Daniel's house.
Thursday September 14, 2023 7:00pm - 9:00pm EDT
Cofounder/cohost Wayne-Daniel Berard's home

7:00pm EDT

T4T Reading Series
Thursday September 14, 2023 7:00pm - 11:00pm EDT
T4T is a monthly reading series featuring a queer open mic and trans featured speaker.
7 PM Signup
8 PM Open Mic
9 PM Featured Guest
Thursday September 14, 2023 7:00pm - 11:00pm EDT
The Model Cafe
 
Thursday, September 21
 

7:00pm EDT

Rozzie Reads Poetry and Open Mic
Thursday September 21, 2023 7:00pm - 9:00pm EDT
Lynn Viti and David Surette, featured readers followed by open mic. This event is hybrid, open mic only available to in-person members.
Thursday September 21, 2023 7:00pm - 9:00pm EDT
Roslindale House
 
Saturday, September 30
 

10:00am EDT

Wicked Smaht Fall Festival- Open Mic
Saturday September 30, 2023 10:00am - 2:00pm EDT
Wicked Smaht Wellness

Open Menu
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Wicked Smaht Fall Festival 2023 (with Open Mic!)
Saturday, September 30, 2023
10:00 AM 5:00 PM
The North Andover Town Common
800 Massachusetts AvenueNorth Andover, MA, 01845United States (map)
Shop local businesses, eat local food, and support local artists while having FUN!!!

Join us for OPEN MIC & either perform or support other local friends!!!

!!!Special LIVE Performances TBA

🎨FREE FACE PAINTING & CHARACTER PHOTOS!!! (TBA!!)

🍎🍩APPLE CIDER DONUT CONTEST!

(Open Mic is free to perform at, we just ask that you register ahead of time to help keep the event organized!)
Saturday September 30, 2023 10:00am - 2:00pm EDT
North Andover Town Common
 
Thursday, October 12
 

7:00pm EDT

Pour Me a Poem (Open Mic & David Surette Feature Reading)
Thursday October 12, 2023 7:00pm - 9:00pm EDT
Poets Wayne-Daniel Berard and Sara Letourneau are hosting the Pour Me a Poem open mic on the second Thursday of each month at 51 Park Street (Wayne-Daniel's home) in Mansfield, MA, from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. David Surette of Cape Cod will be our feature poet on Thursday, October 12.

After the feature poet, there will be a quick break, followed by the main open mic. You can sign up for your time slot upon arrival. The event is free, but please bring a few bucks for when we "pass the hat" for the feature poet.

Please ensure you are fully vaccinated for COVID-19 before attending. Also, please make sure you park on the even-numbered side of the street, opposite from Wayne-Daniel's house.
Thursday October 12, 2023 7:00pm - 9:00pm EDT
Cofounder/cohost Wayne-Daniel Berard's home
 
Wednesday, October 18
 

11:00am EDT

black holes and gypsy hearts Reading and Q&A at Brandeis University
Wednesday October 18, 2023 11:00am - 12:00pm EDT
Join poet Damiana Andonova for poetry and pastries and a moderated Q&A discussion. Located in the Brandeis University Physics Lounge. 
Wednesday October 18, 2023 11:00am - 12:00pm EDT
Brandeis University
 
Sunday, October 22
 

2:00pm EDT

Three Short Verse Plays by Gary Duehr
Sunday October 22, 2023 2:00pm - 3:30pm EDT
Three Short Verse Plays by Gary Duehr
"Johnny Depp Vs. Amber Heard"
"The Great Pickleball Debacle"
"The Interrogation of Cassidy Hutchinson"

Sunday, October 22, 2 pm
Free and open to the public

Connexion
149 Broadway, Somerville, MA 02145
www.connexionumc.org
Sunday October 22, 2023 2:00pm - 3:30pm EDT
Connexion

2:00pm EDT

Poetry at the Manse
Sunday October 22, 2023 2:00pm - 4:00pm EDT
Three widely-published poets will read selections from their newly-released books of poems. Merryn Rutledge's Sweet Juice and Ruby-Bitter Seed is from Kelsay Books. Sunday, October 22, 2 p.m. at The Old Manse, Concord, MA, as part of the NE Poetry Club's series "Poetry at the Manse," co-sponsored by The Trustees of the Reservation. Registration suggested.
Sunday October 22, 2023 2:00pm - 4:00pm EDT
The Old Manse
 
Tuesday, October 24
 

7:00pm EDT

New Book and Open Mic
Tuesday October 24, 2023 7:00pm - 8:45pm EDT
This event will feature readings from recent publications by two poets, Annie Pluto and Thomas DeFreitas. There will be a poetry open mic that follows the reading.
Tuesday October 24, 2023 7:00pm - 8:45pm EDT
Robbins Library, 3rd Floor, 700 Mass., Ave., Arlington, MA Robbins Library, 3rd Floor, 700 Mass., Ave., Arlington, MA
 
Tuesday, October 31
 

7:30pm EDT

The Poetry Brothel: Haunted Hearts
Tuesday October 31, 2023 7:30pm - 10:30pm EDT

Bow Market Upstairs will be visited by the presence of Madame Betty BOOM and her bevy of poetry whores, tarot & palm readers, burlesque creatures, and other beauties who will welcome you into their mysterious fold at a one-of-a-kind immersive event for one night only on HALLOWEEN!
At The Poetry Brothel, a “madam” presents a rotating cast of poets, artists, and artisans who operate within self-constructed character, “erupting into verse in public and luring guests into back rooms for private readings,” as described in The New Yorker. Central to The Poetry Brothel experience is the creation of character, which for each artist serves as disguise and freeing device, enabling The Poetry Brothel to be a place of uninhibited creative expression in which artists and audience members alike can communicate more authentically.
Artists performing with the Brothel are women, men, folx, people of color, queer, straight, emerging, established, local, and international. Their alter-egos are faeries, sea creatures, witches, aliens, virgins, whores, and everything in between. Some of the artists within The Poetry Brothel universe perform sex work in their off-hours. The Poetry Brothel uses its platform to support sex workers and to educate audiences about the sex industry.

DETAILS
Venue: Bow Market Upstairs, Somerville MA
Doors open at 700pm. The show begins promptly at 8pm.
This event is 21+
Costume contest! First, second, and third prizes go to those with the most ghostly, haunting lewks.
In addition to its poets, The Poetry Brothel presents artists and activists working in a variety of mediums both on stage and through its ever-changing array of intimate, interactive, and creative services.
On Consent: Behave with beauty, connect with intention. We are, by and large, a no-contact event -- here to blow your mind and nothing else! Always ask before touching anyone in our House, and report any discomfort to security or staff or the Madam Herself without delay.
Themed costumes and/or vintage formal wear are encouraged but not required. This event is 21+. Our show includes flashing lights, reasonably amplified music, and a startling glimpse of your true self.
Tuesday October 31, 2023 7:30pm - 10:30pm EDT
1 Bow Market Way (Upstairs), Somerville, MA 02143
 
Wednesday, November 1
 

6:00pm EDT

November 2023 Untitled Open Mic And Mill City Speaks Qualifier Slam
Wednesday November 1, 2023 6:00pm - 9:00pm EDT
The slam season is blooming in full flower with another qualifier for our 2024 (yes, it’s coming!) Mill City Slam Team. Poets compete with original works for a chance to win not only a space in our Mill City Slam Finals but also the $70 Grand Prize!

The Untitled Open Mic is hosted at Coffee and Cotton at Mill No. 5. Located in a historic downtown textile building, Mill No. 5 is a destination into what Lowell is; home to independent shops, The Luna Theatre, the Farm Market, and Coffee and Cotton. Coffee and Cotton is the heart of the building, serving up coffee, espresso, and lattes, wine, local craft beer, delicious, made to order, locally sourced options for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. It is also a venue for live music, game nights, community events, and now our Untitled Open Mic.

/// About the Slam ///
This is the second qualifying slam for the Mill City Speaks 2024 Poetry Slam Team. Poets will go three rounds, leaving only the best of the best for the final MONEY round. Winner gets $70, and runner-up gets $30 (Real Cash! American Dollars!).

The Poets should sign up in advance because there is no guarantee (but maybe a chance) to have a space open on the night of the event. Contact lowellpoetry@gmail.com if you’re interested in competing.
However, judges will be chosen on the night itself! No particular qualification except wanting to participate in the fun. Anyone willing to put numbers to poetry is eligible. For more info, as we said, contact lowellpoetry@gmail.com.

/// Format ///
Sign-Ups Open @ 6pm
Open Mic Starts @ 6:30 pm
Poetry Slam begins after the open reading.
All Done @ 9:00pm
/// Details ///
Free Admission
Food, Drink, and Merch for Sale
@ Coffee & Cotton
250 Jackson St. No. 401
Lowell, Mass. 01852
https://millno5.com/directions/

Also streaming online
ZOOM Info
Mill City Speaks is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: Untitled Mill City Speaks Qualifier Time: Nov 1, 2023 06:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86401480425
Meeting ID: 864 0148 0425 Passcode available on request;
email to lowellpoetry@gmail.com.

/// Safer Space & Community Guidelines ///
We strive to foster a space of inclusivity and respect. We ask everyone to not bring (in no particular order) ableist, ageist, body shaming, classist, homophobic, misogynist, misandrist, racist, transphobic, oppressive language, attitudes, and actions at the space. We look to hold ourselves and one another accountable to creating a culture in which we treat each other with consent and respect. This includes but is not limited to respecting people's physical and emotional boundaries and receiving explicit verbal consent before touching someone or crossing other personal boundaries. If you are disrupting our safer space we will ask you to leave.
/// Zoom Guidelines /// (Online)
  1. Some best practices suggest being somewhere with minimal background noise and good lighting, use headphones if possible, and close any applications not being used on your device to improve Zoom quality.
2.) It is best to have your display on “Speaker View” to see the host and performer. “Gallery View” will allow you to see all guests at once.
3.) Feel free to add a name and pronoun into your display so we can say hello and know who is joining us. Keep in mind that this event is streaming publicly so take any precautions about sharing your identity.
4.) Guests could also have “Video” on or off, as that is optional.5.) During performances/readings the host will “Mute” all other guests.
6.) Guests are encouraged to show love and gratitude visually on screen or in the chat window.
7.) Please be respectful on screen and in the chat window - and acknowledge the space you can take up in this digital communal platform.
8.) Host will allow guests to un-mute after performances if they choose and able to out loud affirmations or gratitudes.
9.) Any conflicts to the safer space / community guidelines the host may remove you from the Zoom call. If you feel like you have been accidentally or wrongfully removed, please reach out to the organizers.
Please reach out to here with questions regarding the open mic or slam.
“This program is supported in part by a grant from the Lowell Cultural Council, a local agency which is supported by the Mass Cultural Council, a state agency.”

Wednesday November 1, 2023 6:00pm - 9:00pm EDT
Coffee and Cotton
 
Wednesday, November 8
 

7:00pm EST

[Working Title] Queer Open Mic
Wednesday November 8, 2023 7:00pm - 9:00pm EST

Join us for a special evening with [Working Title], 4 emerging, queer Boston writers.
[Working Title] is a pop-up reading series at rotating Boston area venues featuring queer and trans local writers. [WT] runs a two-hour show comprised of a curated live reading of invited writers' work, followed by a queer open mic. They aim to build local community and a new queer literary canon, especially by and for writers who have typically been excluded from mainstream, traditional publishing, with an emphasis on up-and-coming poets.
*****
Doors at 6:30pm
Show at 7:00pm
Ticketing: General Admission | $5 in advance; $10 day of show | 18+ PROPER ID REQUIRED
Accessibility: The Rockwell is wheelchair accessible.
Wednesday November 8, 2023 7:00pm - 9:00pm EST
The Rockwell
 
Thursday, November 9
 

7:00pm EST

Pour Me a Poem (Open Mic & Joe Fusco Feature Reading)
Thursday November 9, 2023 7:00pm - 9:00pm EST
Poets Wayne-Daniel Berard and Sara Letourneau are hosting the Pour Me a Poem open mic on the second Thursday of each month at 51 Park Street (Wayne-Daniel's home) in Mansfield, MA, from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. Joe Fusco, Jr. of Worcester will be our feature poet on Thursday, November 9.

After the feature poet, there will be a quick break, followed by the main open mic. You can sign up for your time slot upon arrival. The event is free, but please bring a few bucks for when we "pass the hat" for the feature poet.

Please ensure you are fully vaccinated for COVID-19 before attending. Also, please make sure you park on the even-numbered side of the street, opposite from Wayne-Daniel's house.
Thursday November 9, 2023 7:00pm - 9:00pm EST
Cofounder/cohost Wayne-Daniel Berard's home
 
Wednesday, November 15
 

6:00pm EST

Untitled Open Mic MCC Night Featuring Willie Ramirez and Jonathan Bennett
Wednesday November 15, 2023 6:00pm - 9:00pm EST
Middlesex Community College Night!
We celebrate the poetry community of Middlesex with two featured poets:
Professors Jonathan Bennett & Willy Ramirez

/// Format ///
Sign-Ups Open @ 6pm
Open Mic Starts @ 6:30 pm
Poetry Feature begins after the open reading.
All Done @ 9:00pm
/// Details ///
Free Admission
Food, Drink, and Merch for Sale
@ Coffee & Cotton
250 Jackson St. No. 401
Lowell, Mass. 01852
https://millno5.com/directions/

Also streaming online:
Mill City Speaks is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: Untitled featuring Jonathan Bennett & Willy Ramirez from MCC Time: Nov 15, 2023 06:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87497042108
Meeting ID: 874 9704 2108 Passcode available on request;
email lowellpoetry@gmail.com
Wednesday November 15, 2023 6:00pm - 9:00pm EST
Coffee and Cotton
 
Wednesday, December 6
 

6:00pm EST

December 2023 Untitled Qualifier Slam for Mill City Speaks
Wednesday December 6, 2023 6:00pm - 9:00pm EST
/// About the Slam ///
This is the third qualifying slam for the Mill City Speaks 2024 Poetry Slam Team. Poets will go three rounds, leaving only the best of the best for the final MONEY round. Winner gets $70, and runner-up gets $30 (Real Cash! American Dollars!). Both will qualify for our Slam Team Finals, coming up in March of 2024.
The Poets should sign up in advance because there is no guarantee (but maybe a chance) to have a space open on the night of the event. Contact lowellpoetry@gmail.com if you’re interested in competing.
However, judges will be chosen on the night itself! No particular qualification except wanting to participate in the fun. Anyone willing to put numbers to poetry is eligible. For more info, as we said, contact lowellpoetry@gmail.com.
/// Format ///
Sign-Ups Open @ 6pm
Open Mic Starts @ 6:30 pm
Poetry Slam begins after the open reading.
All Done @ 9:00pm
/// Details ///
Free Admission
Food, Drink, and Merch for Sale
@ Coffee & Cotton
250 Jackson St. No. 401
Lowell, Mass. 01852
https://millno5.com/directions/
Also streaming online
ZOOM Info
Mill City Speaks is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: Untitled Mill City Speaks Qualifier Time: Nov 1, 2023 06:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86401480425
Meeting ID: 864 0148 0425 Passcode available on request;
email to lowellpoetry@gmail.com.
Wednesday December 6, 2023 6:00pm - 9:00pm EST
Coffee and Cotton
 
Thursday, December 14
 

7:00pm EST

Pour Me a Poem (Open Mic & Karen Sharpe Feature Reading)
Thursday December 14, 2023 7:00pm - 9:00pm EST
Poets Wayne-Daniel Berard and Sara Letourneau are hosting the Pour Me a Poem open mic on the second Thursday of each month at 51 Park Street (Wayne-Daniel's home) in Mansfield, MA, from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. Karen Sharpe of Worcester will be our feature poet on Thursday, December 14.

After the feature poet, there will be a quick break, followed by the main open mic. You can sign up for your time slot upon arrival. The event is free, but please bring a few bucks for when we "pass the hat" for the feature poet.

Please ensure you are fully vaccinated for COVID-19 before attending. Also, please make sure you park on the even-numbered side of the street, opposite from Wayne-Daniel's house.
Thursday December 14, 2023 7:00pm - 9:00pm EST
Cofounder/cohost Wayne-Daniel Berard's home
 
Monday, December 18
 

10:30am EST

Poetry in Pictures
Monday December 18, 2023 10:30am - 11:30am EST
The Medford Senior Center presents Poetry in Pictures, led by award-winning photographer and published poet Robert Castagna. Ever imagine writing a poem that drew a picture in another person’s mind? Or imagine combining your photographs with your words? In this class, you will creatively write and put your poetic voices to images of your choosing. Whether old photographs or newly taken ones, your voice and images will emerge from the shadows, as Robert helps you see pictures and words in new ways. Seats are limited; to reserve your place, call the Senior Center at 781-396-6010.
Monday December 18, 2023 10:30am - 11:30am EST
Medford Senior Center
 
Wednesday, January 3
 

6:30pm EST

Poetry at Hale
Wednesday January 3, 2024 6:30pm - 8:00pm EST

Whether you choose to share your own poetry or story, or would simply like to appreciate the work of others, join us for an exciting night of spoken word. Poetry nights are ideal for ages 16+ but younger poets and listeners are welcome if they're accompanied by parents or guardians. Events are hosted at Hale (80 Carby Street, Westwood); specific parking and venue information is confirmed by email prior to each event.

Featured Poet
Jan. 3—Will C. is a university professor and international performer, trainer, and administrator of Playback Theatre. He’s a respected poet and creative event planner who engages communities through the arts. In his free time, Will C. enjoys traveling, eating, cooking, surrounding himself by nature, and “building authentic relationships through existential conversations with empathetically reflective individuals.” He earned a B.A. in Theater Arts from Brandeis University and an M.Ed. in Arts in Education from Harvard University.
Wednesday January 3, 2024 6:30pm - 8:00pm EST
Hale Education, Inc.
 
Thursday, January 11
 

7:00pm EST

Pour Me a Poem (Open Mic & Alana Parrott Feature Reading)
Thursday January 11, 2024 7:00pm - 9:00pm EST
Poets Wayne-Daniel Berard and Sara Letourneau are hosting the Pour Me a Poem open mic on the second Thursday of each month at 51 Park Street (Wayne-Daniel's home) in Mansfield, MA, from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. Alana Parrott of Rhode Island will be our feature poet on Thursday, January 11, 2024.

After the feature poet, there will be a quick break, followed by the main open mic. You can sign up for your time slot upon arrival. The event is free, but please bring a few bucks for when we "pass the hat" for the feature poet.

Please ensure you are fully vaccinated for COVID-19 before attending. Also, please make sure you park on the even-numbered side of the street, opposite from Wayne-Daniel's house.
Thursday January 11, 2024 7:00pm - 9:00pm EST
Cofounder/cohost Wayne-Daniel Berard's home
 
Sunday, February 4
 

2:00pm EST

15th Annual Jewish Poetry Festival
Sunday February 4, 2024 2:00pm - 4:00pm EST
Join us for the annual Jewish Poetry Festival at Temple Sinai, coordinated by Deborah Leipziger and moderated by Larry Lowenthal. This year’s festival features Joy Ladin, a widely published poet and essayist, literary scholar, and nationally-known speaker on transgender issues.
Refreshments will be served.
Contact the temple office at 617-277-5888 or office@sinaibrookline.org to obtain the Zoom link closer to the date. The link will also be in the weekly Sinai Update email.
We are grateful to CJP for their sponsorship of the New England Jewish Poetry Festival and to Keshet for co-sponsoring this event with us.

Questions? Contact Deborah Leipziger at dleipziger@gmail.com.
Sunday February 4, 2024 2:00pm - 4:00pm EST
Temple Sinai

3:00pm EST

Concord Poetry at the Library Series presents January Gill O’Neil
Sunday February 4, 2024 3:00pm - 4:30pm EST
PLEASE REGISTER HERE FOR A SEAT IN THE FORUM

Join us for an afternoon of celebrating Black History Month with award-winning poet January Gill O’Neil who will read and engage in a Q & A about what she discovered while writing her newest book, Glitter Road (CavanKerry Press February 2024) “My poems brought me to Oxford, Mississippi,” she writes. “I moved from Massachusetts with my two teenagers for an academic year as the 2019-2020 John and Renée Grisham Writer in Residence at the University of Mississippi. We took trips to the Delta, leaned into the history of the enslaved and the tragic story of Emmett Till, and explored the rivers and landscapes that shaped the South.”
Sunday February 4, 2024 3:00pm - 4:30pm EST
Concord Free Public Library
 
Thursday, February 8
 

5:30pm EST

United in Poetry Workshop for Grades 6-9
Thursday February 8, 2024 5:30pm - 6:30pm EST
Are you in grades 6-9? Are you a writer or a poet? Do you WANT to be one? Have we got a series for you!

Join us for a 5-week poetry workshop to develop your own poetic voice and explore the possibilities of poetic form. We'll examine work from famous poets from history and today, and help you develop your ideas and your writing with constructive collaboration in this small and supportive group. This workshop is presented by Creative Writing students from Wheaton College. Ages 11-14.

Registration is required and covers the following dates; please register once and plan to attend all five sessions.

The following Thursdays from 5:30-6:30

2/8
2/15
2/22
2/29
3/7
Thursday February 8, 2024 5:30pm - 6:30pm EST
Norton Public Library

7:00pm EST

Pour Me a Poem (Open Mic & Timothy Gager Feature Reading)
Thursday February 8, 2024 7:00pm - 9:00pm EST
Poets Wayne-Daniel Berard and Sara Letourneau are hosting the Pour Me a Poem open mic on the second Thursday of each month at 51 Park Street (Wayne-Daniel's home) in Mansfield, MA, from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. Timothy Gager of Dedham will be our feature poet on Thursday, February 9, 2024.

After the feature poet, there will be a quick break, followed by the main open mic. You can sign up for your time slot upon arrival. The event is free, but please bring a few bucks for when we "pass the hat" for the feature poet.

Please ensure you are fully vaccinated for COVID-19 before attending. Also, please make sure you park on the even-numbered side of the street, opposite from Wayne-Daniel's house.
Thursday February 8, 2024 7:00pm - 9:00pm EST
Cofounder/cohost Wayne-Daniel Berard's home
 
Tuesday, February 13
 

6:00pm EST

The Poetry Brothel Boston: Feverdream
Tuesday February 13, 2024 6:00pm - 11:30pm EST

This Valentine's Day, slip beneath the conscious into the realm of fantasy with The Poetry Brothel. The subliminal will surface as our poets make nocturnal admissions.
At The Poetry Brothel, a “madam” presents a rotating cast of poets, artists, and artisans who operate within self-constructed character, “erupting into verse in public and luring guests into back rooms for private readings,” as described in The New Yorker. Central to The Poetry Brothel experience is the creation of character, which for each artist serves as disguise and freeing device, enabling The Poetry Brothel to be a place of uninhibited creative expression in which artists and audience members alike can communicate more authentically.
Artists performing with the Brothel are women, men, folx, people of color, queer, straight, emerging, established, local, and international. Their alter-egos are faeries, sea creatures, witches, aliens, virgins, whores, and everything in between. Some of the artists within The Poetry Brothel universe perform sex work in their off-hours. The Poetry Brothel uses its platform to support sex workers and to educate audiences about the sex industry.

This event is 21+
We offering two shows on one night. When purchasing tickets, please select EITHER the 6:00pm show OR the 9:00pm show. The schedule is as follows:
For the FIRST SHOW, Doors open at 6:00pm. The show begins promptly at 6:30pm and ends at 8:30pm.
For the SECOND SHOW, Doors open at 9:00pm. The show begins at 9:30pm and ends at 11:30pm.

Questions or inspirations? Want to Sponsor our event or table at the event? Reach out to Madam Betty BOOM at shari@poetrysocietyny.org.
Tuesday February 13, 2024 6:00pm - 11:30pm EST
1 Bow Market Way (Upstairs), Somerville, MA 02143

7:00pm EST

Newton Library Poetry Reading and Open Mic (In person!)
Tuesday February 13, 2024 7:00pm - 9:00pm EST
TBA
The poetry series meets in September, November, February and April. Each month three prominent, published poets give readings. An open mic follows with a limit of one short poem per person. The series is facilitated by Doug Holder of Ibbetson St. Press. This month the following poets will give readings: Michael E. Henry (MEH), Sarah Kensey, and Quintin Collins.
Tuesday February 13, 2024 7:00pm - 9:00pm EST
TBA
 
Saturday, February 17
 

3:00pm EST

Free Verse Poetry Slam Winter Fest 2024
Saturday February 17, 2024 3:00pm - 5:00pm EST
Gallery Z is please to be chosen to host Free Verse! Teen Team Slam:
Poetry in Performance, plus an Open Mic
Join us to join in on the mic, judge, or just listen to our Lowell High poets compete for cash prizes.
The Word is Alive: Poetry You Can Clap For!
Saturday February 17, 2024 3:00pm - 5:00pm EST
Gallery Z Visual And Performing Arts Center
 
Wednesday, February 28
 

7:00pm EST

Poetry, the Natural World, the Climate Crisis, and Connection: A Reading and Workshop with Nadia Colburn, PhD.
Wednesday February 28, 2024 7:00pm - 8:30pm EST
Poets have long understood the connection between, in the words of Robert Frost, “inner and outer weather.” Today, as human activity is changing the climate and our earth at an unprecedented rate, poetry helps us find our grounding and gives us tools for greater connection, voice, and vision.
In this interactive reading and workshop, poet, teacher, and activist Nadia Colburn will read from her poetry book I Say the Sky and lead participants in meditations, prompts, and discussion around our own inner and outer weathers. How do we stay grounded in this time of crisis? How do we cultivate and nourish a vision of connection and belonging? And how can we find our own voice amidst both the clamoring noise of our public, busy world, and the many forces of silence around us?
Nadia will share her own poems and her personal journey behind them; she’ll also share her unique method of coupling mediation and writing so that participants can experience for themselves the power of listening and writing from a more integrated place. There will be time for writing and discussion, and we’ll explore ways to create bridges between poetry and environmental and social engagement.
The workshop is designed to be both restorative and energizing, and is appropriate for people with any level of writing and environmental experience. Take home resources to deepen your connection to poetry as well as new ways to get involved in environmental action.
Wednesday February 28, 2024 7:00pm - 8:30pm EST
Brookline Public Library
 
Monday, March 11
 

7:00pm EDT

Poetry Open Mic with Urban Media Arts
Monday March 11, 2024 7:00pm - 8:00pm EDT
Poetry Open Mic every 2nd and 4th Monday of the month.
Doors open @6:30pm
Open Mic 7pm-8pm
Contact us to sign up and join the email list: controverse.openmic@gmail.com
Monday March 11, 2024 7:00pm - 8:00pm EDT
Urban Media Arts
 
Tuesday, March 12
 

7:00pm EDT

Four Poets at the Waltham Historical Society
Tuesday March 12, 2024 7:00pm - 9:00pm EDT
Prepare for a unique tapestry of history and verse! The Waltham Historical Society and the New England Poetry Club join forces on March 12th, 7:00 PM, to explore Waltham’s rich spirit, and more, through the voices of:
  • Barbara de la Cuesta, poet and novelist, weaving Waltham tales that transcend time.
  • Owen Lewis, Professor of Psychiatry and Narrative Medicine, bridging the gap between personal home and Berkshires history.
  • Jessica Lucci, local author and poet, capturing the essence of Waltham in lyrical strokes.
  • Gail Thomas, poet, painting vivid Swift River Valley portraits with words.
This captivating evening promises to be a journey through the past, present, and possibilities of diverse Massachusetts locales. Free and open to the public.
Tuesday March 12, 2024 7:00pm - 9:00pm EDT
Waltham Historical Society
 
Thursday, March 14
 

7:00pm EDT

Pour Me a Poem (Open Mic & Mark Walsh Feature Reading)
Thursday March 14, 2024 7:00pm - 9:00pm EDT
Poets Wayne-Daniel Berard and Sara Letourneau are hosting the Pour Me a Poem open mic on the second Thursday of each month at 51 Park Street (Wayne-Daniel's home) in Mansfield, MA, from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. Mark Walsh of Weymouth, MA will be our feature poet on Thursday, December 14.

After the featured poet, there will be a quick break, followed by the main open mic. You can sign up for your time slot upon arrival. The event is free, but please bring a few bucks for when we "pass the hat" for the featured poet.

Please ensure you are fully vaccinated for COVID-19 before attending. Also, make sure you park on the even-numbered side of the street, opposite from Wayne-Daniel's house. Please note that the venue may not be accessible to everyone.
Thursday March 14, 2024 7:00pm - 9:00pm EDT
51 Park Street, Unit 6, Mansfield, MA 02048
 
Tuesday, April 2
 

6:30pm EDT

Annual Poetry Reading and Open Mic
Tuesday April 2, 2024 6:30pm - 8:00pm EDT
Participants aged 16 and older are invited to share their poetry with other poets and members of the public in attendance. The event runs from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Featured poets for the event are Heather Corbally Bryant and the Westwood Tuesday Evening Poets. An open mic, with readings by anyone who wishes to participate, will follow the featured readers.
Open mic signups begin at 6:15 PM at the door the night of the program, or by email to Lynne Viti at lviti@wellesley.edu
Poets are limited to one poem/three minutes, either one they wrote, or a favorite poem by another poet.
The April 2 reading is free and open to the public, and the venue is fully accessible.
Tuesday April 2, 2024 6:30pm - 8:00pm EDT
Westwood Public Library
 
Thursday, April 4
 

7:00pm EDT

New England Poetry Club: National Poetry Month at the Medford Historical Society
Thursday April 4, 2024 7:00pm - 8:30pm EDT
Poet/songwriter Max Heinegg with featured poets Denise Bergman, Kevin Gallagher, and Scott Ruescher
Thursday April 4, 2024 7:00pm - 8:30pm EDT
Medford Historical Society
 
Thursday, April 11
 

6:30pm EDT

The Poetry Cafe
Thursday April 11, 2024 6:30pm - 8:30pm EDT
Join us for a friendly night of poetry reading and discussion. Read a few of your favorite poems, a poem you like that might spark discussion. Hosted by Rick Breault & Gallery Z free admission.
Thursday April 11, 2024 6:30pm - 8:30pm EDT
Gallery Z Visual And Performing Arts Center

7:00pm EDT

Pour Me a Poem (Open Mic & Tess Gordon Feature Reading)
Thursday April 11, 2024 7:00pm - 9:00pm EDT
Poets Wayne-Daniel Berard and Sara Letourneau are hosting the Pour Me a Poem open mic on the second Thursday of each month at 51 Park Street (Wayne-Daniel's home) in Mansfield, MA, from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. Tess Gordon of Arlington, MA will be our featured poet on Thursday, April 11.After the featured poet, there will be a quick break, followed by the main open mic. You can sign up for your time slot upon arrival. The event is free, but please bring a few bucks for when we "pass the hat" for the featured poet.
Please ensure you are fully vaccinated for COVID-19 before attending. Also, make sure you park on the even-numbered side of the street, opposite from Wayne-Daniel's house. Please note that the venue may not be accessible to everyone.
Thursday April 11, 2024 7:00pm - 9:00pm EDT
51 Park Street, Unit 6, Mansfield, MA 02048
 
Sunday, April 28
 

2:00pm EDT

Poetry at the Manse: Martha Collins, Merryn Rutledge, Timothy Gager
Sunday April 28, 2024 2:00pm - 3:00pm EDT
Martha Collins has published eleven books of poetry, most recently Casualty Reports (Pittsburgh, 2022) and Because What Else Could I Do (Pittsburgh, 2019); the latter won the Poetry Society of America’s William Carlos Williams Award. She has co-translated five volumes of Vietnamese poetry, most recently Dreaming the Mountain by Tuệ Sỹwith Nguyen Ba Chung (Milkweed, 2023), and co-edited, with Kevin Prufer, Into English: Poems, Translations, Commentaries  (Graywolf, 2017).  Collins founded the U.Mass. Boston creative writing program and for ten years served as Pauline Delaney Professor of Creative Writing at Oberlin. Her website is marthacollinspoet.com.

Merryn Rutledge is a poet, reviewer, and teacher of poetry as craft. Sweet Juice and Ruby-Bitter Seed (Kelsay Books, 2023) features poems about her forebears in the American South, challenges like grief, and reflections on the costs of racism.  Her poems have appeared widely in journals throughout the world and in several anthologies, such as All Shall Be Well (Amythest Press, 2023), an anthology celebrating the medieval mystic Julian of Norwich. Merryn’s reviews of new poetry books by women have appeared in Tupelo Quarterly and Pedestal, for example. After earning a Masters and BA with honors in English from Smith College, Merryn taught literature, writing, and film studies at Phillips Exeter Academy. In a second career, she earned a doctorate in leadership and led a national leadership development consulting firm. During that period, essays based on her field research on leadership were published in the peer-reviewed journals and in books. Merryn enjoys working for social justice causes, singing, dancing, and playing on the shore near her home south of Boston.

Bestselling author Timothy Gager has published 18 books of fiction and poetry, which includes his latest novel, Joe the Salamander. He hosted the successful Dire Literary Series in Cambridge, MA from 2001 to 2018, and started a weekly virtual series in 2020. He has had over one thousand works of fiction and poetry published, eighteen nominated for the Pushcart Prize. His work also has been nominated twice for a Massachusetts Book Award, The Best of the Web, The Best Small Fictions Anthology and has been read on National Public Radio. In 2023, Big Table Publishing published an anthology of twenty years of his selected work, with 150 pages of new material: The Best of Timothy Gager. Timothy served as the Fiction Editor of The Wilderness House Literary Review for ten years, and was the founding co-editor of The Heat City Literary Review. A graduate of the University of Delaware, Timothy lives in Dedham, Massachusetts.
Sunday April 28, 2024 2:00pm - 3:00pm EDT
The Old Manse
 
Thursday, May 9
 

7:00pm EDT

Pour Me a Poem (Open Mic & Robbie Gamble Feature Reading)
Thursday May 9, 2024 7:00pm - 9:00pm EDT
Poets Wayne-Daniel Berard and Sara Letourneau are hosting the Pour Me a Poem open mic on the second Thursday of each month at 51 Park Street (Wayne-Daniel's home) in Mansfield, MA, from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. Robbie Gamble of Boston will be our featured poet on Thursday, May 9.After the featured poet, there will be a quick break, followed by the main open mic. You can sign up for your time slot upon arrival. The event is free, but please bring a few bucks for when we "pass the hat" for the featured poet.
Please ensure you are fully vaccinated for COVID-19 before attending. Also, make sure you park on the even-numbered side of the street, opposite from Wayne-Daniel's house. Please note that the venue may not be accessible to everyone.
Thursday May 9, 2024 7:00pm - 9:00pm EDT
51 Park Street, Unit 6, Mansfield, MA 02048
 
Tuesday, May 28
 

7:00pm EDT

Sophie Cabot Black in Boston
Tuesday May 28, 2024 7:00pm - 8:00pm EDT

Sophie Cabot Black has four poetry collections: The Misunderstanding of Nature, which received the Poetry Society of America’s First Book Award, The Descent, which received the 2005 Connecticut Book Award, and The Exchange which received a starred review from Publisher’s Weekly. NPR labels her a “poet’s poet” and Billy Collins calls her voice “fresh and daring”. Her newest collection, Geometry of the Restless Herd, is out in May of 2024. Her poetry has appeared in numerous magazines, including The Atlantic Monthly, The New Republic, The New Yorker, and The Paris Review. 
 
The evening will be hosted by poet and translator Nidia Hernandez and Jennifer Barber, the current poet laureate of Brookline, and is co-sponsored by the New England Poetry Club and the Brookline Commission for the Arts.
Tuesday May 28, 2024 7:00pm - 8:00pm EDT
Brookline Public Library
 
Thursday, June 13
 

7:00pm EDT

Pour Me a Poem (Open Mic & Eric Petersen Feature Reading)
Thursday June 13, 2024 7:00pm - 9:00pm EDT
Poets Wayne-Daniel Berard and Sara Letourneau are hosting the Pour Me a Poem open mic on the second Thursday of each month at 51 Park Street (Wayne-Daniel's home) in Mansfield, MA, from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. Eric Petersen (aka ESP) of Gardner, MA will be our feature poet on Thursday, June 13.After the featured poet, there will be a quick break, followed by the main open mic. You can sign up for your time slot upon arrival. The event is free, but please bring a few bucks for when we "pass the hat" for the featured poet.
Please ensure you are fully vaccinated for COVID-19 before attending. Also, make sure you park on the even-numbered side of the street, opposite from Wayne-Daniel's house. Please note that the venue may not be accessible to everyone.
Thursday June 13, 2024 7:00pm - 9:00pm EDT
51 Park Street, Unit 6, Mansfield, MA 02048
 
Thursday, June 27
 

7:00pm EDT

Unearthing Debut Release Party ft. Joey Phoenix and Friends
Thursday June 27, 2024 7:00pm - 9:00pm EDT
Joey Phoenix is releasing their DEBUT chapbook of poetry this June. They are also releasing the companion album featuring their words and Joe Sabourin's extraordinary music.Join Joey and friends for an evening of art, poetry, movement, and music at Rooted Cafe inside the Arts at the Armory on Highland Avenue in Somerville, MA.
The evening will also feature:
 - poetry and art by She Moves and Makes
 - readings from Joey Gould and Shari Caplan
 - performance snippets from unearthing the album
- other exciting happenings TBA
Thursday June 27, 2024 7:00pm - 9:00pm EDT
Arts at the Armory, 191 Highland Avenue
 
Friday, November 8
 

7:30pm EST

Chapter and Verse: Caplan, Carney Goodrich, Pawlak
Friday November 8, 2024 7:30pm - 9:30pm EST
Please join the Jamaica Pond Poets for the poetry of Shari Caplan, Linda Carney Goodrich, and Mark Pawlak. Suggested donation: $5, or whatever you can afford. Free refreshments follow the reading.
Readers/Speakers
avatar for Shari Caplan

Shari Caplan

Shari Caplan is the author of “Advice from a Siren” (Dancing Girl Press, 2016). Her work appears in Zoetic Press, Drunk Monkeys, and Deluge and is forthcoming from Blue Lyra Review and The Rhylsing Anthology, a publication of Rhylsing Award nominees. A graduate of Lesley University’s... Read More →
Friday November 8, 2024 7:30pm - 9:30pm EST
Loring-Greenough House
 
Saturday, November 9
 

3:00pm EST

Zumi's Open Mic Featuring Jack Giaour
Saturday November 9, 2024 3:00pm - 4:30pm EST
Join us Second Saturdays 3-4:30pm at Zumi's Topsfield for poetry/performance, coffee, and community! Creative types of all stripes are welcome at the mic!

Jack Giaour (he/him/his) is an American poet. His chapbook Hunting the Bugs (2024) won Bateau Press’s BOOM Chapbook contest. He has also published poetry in a number of literary journals, including Fourteen Hills, Albatross Magazine, and The Sonora Review. He currently lives in Rowley, MA.
Readers/Speakers
Saturday November 9, 2024 3:00pm - 4:30pm EST
Zumi's Espresso & Ice Cream

5:00pm EST

Zumi's Open Mic Ipswich
Saturday November 9, 2024 5:00pm - 6:00pm EST
Open Mic and Poetry Hang at Zumi's Espresso & Ice Cream in Ipswich on the 3rd Saturday of every month, 5-6pm.
Saturday November 9, 2024 5:00pm - 6:00pm EST
Zumi's Espresso & Ice Cream
 


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