Poetry is one of civilization’s oldest known art forms. The earliest poems were believed to be passed down through the oral tradition, chanted or sung, as they predated modern literacy. But we’ve come a long way, and today’s poetic forms are as varied as the poets themselves. From sonnets and sestinas to ghazals and villanelles, poetry is being celebrated on September 30 with a one-day micro-festival at Englewood Arts, hosted by Flying Ketchup Press, a woman-owned and artist-run publisher founded in 2018.
The poetry world is small, but mighty—and welcoming to all. Readers, writers, teachers, students, performers, editors, and publishers gather at the Kansas City Poetry Jam to network and experience readings and workshops from some of Kansas City’s best and most exciting poets—including Kansas Poet Laureate Traci Brimhall, who will read her poetry and teach a workshop exploring connections between food, memory, and language. Also lining up to share their knowledge are Justin Hamm, Nettie Zan, Tyrone “Inkwell” Gethers Jr., Lisa Allen, Jamie Lynn Heller, and Waco Porter. Everyone is welcome for a featured panel discussion on “Poetry, Publishing, and New Technologies” featuring a discussion between poets Jerri Miller and Kevin Callahan with former Missouri Poet Laureate, Maryfrances Wagner.
Flying Ketchup Press’s outreach program, Ketchupedia, aims to provide annual mentorships, publications, workshops, and open mics to all. The mission is to pass on the craft of writing and create a “poet-tree” effect making room for empowering personal narratives. To that end, the event will be followed by five sponsored open mics and readings in the Kansas City area.