January Poetry Café: New Year, New Work

Join us for our monthly Poetry Café in the Great Hall. January’s focus is less of a theme and more of an invitation to share any poetry you’ve written since the new year. This could be reflections on the last twelve months, hopes and dreams for this upcoming year, or a piece inspired by your daily life. If you need a concrete idea to get you started, consider writing about the way light is changing since the winter solstice, or how the presence of snow affects the darkness of a night sky. 

Come ready to share your work or be an attentive listener, all are welcome. Please register below.

There is some debate on the origin of the phrase “Poetry Café.” Some argue it refers to the Modernists (Gertrude Stein, Ernest Hemingway, TS Eliot, etc.) sharing their work in the cafés in Europe. As spoken word poetry has gained traction and the genre of slam poetry has evolved, some trace the phrase to the Nuyorican Poets Café in Manhattan. The café was founded in 1973 by Rutgers professor Miguel Algarín and gave Puerto Rican New York poets a place to meet and share their work. Although the café was closed for several years in the 1980’s, it continues to serve as an arts center for the Nuyorican community.