Poetry Reading & Open Mic

Enjoy listening to poetry – or share some writing of your own – with Poetry in the Boro. Our featured readers will be June Hall McCash and Christopher Williams. Learn more about these poets below.

This month we’ll be back with our friends at The Green Dragon Public House. We’ll have some complimentary snacks and soft drinks, or you can purchase something more fortifying from the menu.

Following our featured readings that begin at 7:00, it will be YOUR turn! Readers will have up to 4 minutes to share poetry, spoken word, or even short short prose. PLEASE TIME YOURSELF AT HOME so you know you can finish your piece in the allowed time. Reading a favorite poem by another writer is fine, too.

We’ll especially cheer for poems that use words included in our March word challenge, selected by our February audience: tulip | station | care | kaleidoscope | collywobbles | tinkle | excise | rip | ruminate | yesteryear

SIGNUPS for the open mic time will open at 6:30 and remain open through the evening. In the interest of building our community, please plan to stay the full time and cheer your fellow creative voices. We finish about 9:00 PM.

The Green Dragon has a parking lot in back, but you can also parallel park on nearby side streets. Note that nearby, the intersection of Broad (Hwy 41) where Old Fort Parkway (Hwy 96) becomes Memorial (Hwy 231) has a very large construction project underway. In the evening the congestion shouldn’t be too bad, but be prepared for a lot of barrels, lane shifts, etc.

Because our venues are often family friendly, excessive profanity is discouraged. Please check with the host prior to reading if you have questions about what’s excessive.

We’re on Facebook at facebook.com/PoetryInTheBoro and use hashtag #PoetryInTheBoro on other social media. Thanks to MTSU Write for their support of our events!

About our poets:

June Hall McCash is the author, co-author, or editor of thirteen books—four historical novels, eight nonfiction works, and one book of poetry. Her novel, ALMOST TO EDEN, won the Georgia Author of the Year Award for first novel in 2011. Her second novel, PLUM ORCHARD, won the Georgia Author of the Year Award for best novel in 2013. She is the recipient of eight other literary awards for fiction, poetry, and non-fiction. Her most recent work, MARGUERITE’S LANDING, was published in 2016. She has completed poetry workshops with poet laureates Mark Strand and Billy Collins.

Christopher Williams will be opening for June. A 2007 MTSU graduate, Chris lives by his “3Cs” motto—take chances, make changes, have courage. Three years ago he began his Facebook page and YouTube video collection titled WORKS OF A CREATIVE MIND, which now consists of over 30+ spoken word videos expressing his thoughts on the world and personal experience. He’s also had two poems published. Along with his unique writing approach, he is the author of BREAKING THE ICE—BEING SOCIAL WITHOUT SOCIAL MEDIA. He is currently working on his second book of the “breaking” series titled BREAKING THE BANK, which is scheduled to be released in August.