Dear Friends of Poetry,
The Poetry Night Reading Series is excited to feature poets Anthony Robles, Keith Miller, Al Cortez, and Anthony Xavier Jackson, also known as the GTFO Collective, at 7 PM on Thursday, May 16th, 2024, on the first floor of the John Natsoulas Gallery, 521 1st Street in Davis.
Anthony Robles is a poet most known for haikus and cinquains. He is a charter member of the poetry troupe Rhyme Syndicate. His first poem, “Rhapsody in Greasy Blue,” was published in 1995 in the zine Wodehouse. He earned his nickname, the “Haiku Hitman,” at Most Open Mic, hosted by Sacramento poet laureate Andru Defeye. In 2022, several of his haikus were included in the curriculum for the Ten Twenty Six Sacramento Poetry Day. He recently judged the California Poetry Out Loud youth contest produced by the California Arts Commission. Robles hosts the Poetry Open Mic every 2nd Thursday at The Silver Lining piano bar in Sacramento.
Keith Miller, a narrative poet from Sacramento, has been captivating audiences with their poetry for decades. Their work offers a raw glimpse into America in Sacramento, seen through liquor store windows and dirty car mirrors. With brutal honesty, they navigate the urban landscape, shedding light on both its struggles and moments of beauty. Keith’s art serves as a powerful reminder of the resilience of the human spirit and the importance of LGBTQA+ perspectives in poetry.
Al Cortez is a Chicano writer, spoken word poet, and mosh pit enthusiast from Sacramento, California. His work has appeared in Fleas On The Dog Magazine and Tule Review.
Anthony Jackson is a poet, performer and songwriter recently relocated from Solano County to Sacramento. His work has appeared in the Sacramento Poetry Center’s Tule Review and Poet News. Anthony produces his own music with spoken word and is working on a forthcoming collection of poetry tentatively titled Hungry Ghosts. He performs often at local open mics.
This event will take place on the first floor of the John Natsoulas Gallery (521 1st Street in Davis) at 7 PM on Thursday, May 16th, 2024. An open mic will follow the featured performers. Open mic performances will be limited to four minutes or two items, whichever is shorter. As Robert Southey says, “Be brief; for it is with words as with sunbeams – the more they are condensed, the deeper they burn.” The open mic list typically fills by 6:45 PM, so please arrive early if you would like to perform something during the 8 o’clock hour. Attendees who request to be added to the list after 7 PM will be invited to try again at a subsequent event.
Find the Facebook event for this much anticipated evening of poetry and stories at https://www.facebook.com/events/1123750698842247
The Poetry Night Reading Series, taking place on first and third Thursdays of the month at 7 PM, is generously supported by the people and poets of the Sacramento Valley, by John Natsoulas, and by Thea and the other members of the staff at the John Natsoulas Gallery. Your host will be Dr. Andy Jones, the poet laureate emeritus of the City of Davis. This event is made possible by Katerina Hanks, producer of The Poetry Night Reading Series, with support from Helaina Flores and Cami Rothmuller.
Find out more about the Poetry Night Reading Series in Davis, California by visiting https://www.poetryindavis.com. Invite your friends to sign up for the mailing list. To learn more about Dr. Andy’s tiny media fiefdom, check out his weekly podcast at https://poetrytechnology.buzzsprout.com/.
Future readers will include Julia Connor, Katie Peterson, Carol Lynn Stevenson Grellas, Clarence Major, Bob Stanley, and other favorites.
The Poetry Night Reading Series has been committed to serving the literary and arts community in the city of Davis since 2006. Happening every 1st and 3rd Thursday of each month at the Natsoulas Gallery, each reading contains two featured poets followed by an open mic. Poetry in Davis was voted “Best Open Mic” in The California Aggie’s “Best of Davis″ edition and has been featured in Davis Life Magazine. The more than 375 featured poets have included UC Davis faculty Francisco X. Alarcón, John Boe, Zinzi Clemmons, Joshua Clover, Jack Forbes, Sandra Gilbert, Laurie Glover, Brad Henderson, Pamela Houston, Andy Jones, Clarence Major, Sandra McPherson, Maceo Montoya, Katie Peterson, Kim Stanley Robinson, Margaret Ronda, Joe Wenderoth, and Alan Williamson, as well as many regional and traveling poets, including Molly Peacock, Jane Hirshfield, Dana Gioia, and James Ragan.
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