Places of Poetry

Poetry can be a powerful and deeply transformative art form, yet finding places to experience poetry with others can be difficult. Fortunately, Cambridge and Somerville are home to many local poets as well as venues that offer poetry events.

Every Wednesday, The Boston Poetry Slam holds a show downstairs at the Cantab Lounge. Each show begins with an open mic, and then a featured poet or an event takes the stage. This show tends to be fun and rowdy and it sells out quickly, so come early if you want to snag a seat.

Aeronaut Brewing Company partners with Porter Square Books to hold ‘Poets & Pints,’ a monthly poetry event hosted at Aeronaut’s community space. Three local artists are invited to take the Duck Village stage and read from their most recent works. A social hour is held before the show so the audience members and the poets can have a beer and meet each other.

For something slightly different, check out the events at Grolier Poetry Book Shop in Harvard Square. This hole-in-the-wall poetry book shop is tucked away just around the corner from the Harvard Book Store and regularly invites distinguished poets to their cozy book shop to give up-close and intimate readings.

Lastly, Harvard’s Woodberry Poetry Room events feature readings from world-class poets that draw a big audience from the Boston poetry scene. These events are often incredibly moving, and this would be the place to go if you want to have a powerful poetry experience.

These are only just a few places to go for poetry events in town, and I hope that you check them out and see what a great poetry reading can do to add richness and dimension to your life.