Envisioning a New Age
Poetry & Open Mic 2025
Zoom Monthly Poetry Series
Wednesdays 7-9 pm CST
John Compton, January 15th
john compton (b. 1987) is a gay poet who lives in Kentucky with his husband Josh and their dogs and cats. His latest full length book is "my husband holds my hand because i may drift away & be lost forever in the vortex of a crowded store" published with Flowersong Press (dec 2024); his latest chapbook is "melancholy arcadia" published with Harbor Editions (april 2024). you can find his books, some poems and other things here: https://linktr.ee/poetjohncompton
Poetry & Open Mic 2025
Zoom Monthly Poetry Series
Wednesdays 7-9 pm CST
John Compton, January 15th
john compton (b. 1987) is a gay poet who lives in Kentucky with his husband Josh and their dogs and cats. His latest full length book is "my husband holds my hand because i may drift away & be lost forever in the vortex of a crowded store" published with Flowersong Press (dec 2024); his latest chapbook is "melancholy arcadia" published with Harbor Editions (april 2024). you can find his books, some poems and other things here: https://linktr.ee/poetjohncompton
Aldo Amparán, February 12th, 8-10 pm
Aldo Amparán (they/them)
Visiting Assistant Professor of Poetry, Creative Media Institute
New Mexico State University
Aldo is the author of Brother Sleep (Alice James Books, 2022), which won the Alice James Award in 2020, & was a finalist for the Lambda Literary Award for Gay Poetry in 2023. They are the recipient of fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts & CantoMundo. Amparán's work has been widely published in magazines & anthologies, including the Academy of American Poets' Poem-a-Day, AGNI, Best New Poets, The Georgia Review, Kenyon Review, New England Review, Ploughshares, Poetry Magazine, & elsewhere.
http://www.aldoamparan.com
Roméo Desmarais, March 12th
Roméo Desmarais III aKa RoMeO-HoMeO ô£ tHę MåRtïÃñS >{:) (t/he/y t/he/m) is a Muskrat Métis du Grand Lac Ste-Claire IndigiQueer poet, artist, and singer-songwriter, with 31 poems appearing among Brickyard Spoken Word (YouTube), in Synkroniciti, Pink Disco, and Eavesdrop magazines, and many others. Their folk song, “John McCauldron”, about an unsheltered man, garnered attention from The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (radio). Roméo has also produced two multimedia textual art exhibits and holds degrees in both Sociology & Music Therapy. A prolific and dynamic performer, he hopes to discourage others from “reading” their works like shopping lists by soon offering performance workshops.
Roméo Desmarais III aKa RoMeO-HoMeO ô£ tHę MåRtïÃñS >{:) (t/he/y t/he/m) is a Muskrat Métis du Grand Lac Ste-Claire IndigiQueer poet, artist, and singer-songwriter, with 31 poems appearing among Brickyard Spoken Word (YouTube), in Synkroniciti, Pink Disco, and Eavesdrop magazines, and many others. Their folk song, “John McCauldron”, about an unsheltered man, garnered attention from The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (radio). Roméo has also produced two multimedia textual art exhibits and holds degrees in both Sociology & Music Therapy. A prolific and dynamic performer, he hopes to discourage others from “reading” their works like shopping lists by soon offering performance workshops.
Andi Kaufman, April 9th
Andi grew up in Miami when it was ‘Blue’ and then moved to Gainesville, where she met her soon-to-be husband. After college, she taught English and Speech to middle-schoolers. Known for her dramatic flair, she was soon to be recruited as the drama coach by a local high school. To date, little compares with the joy, commitment, and unconditional love her students showered upon her.
Andi grew up in Miami when it was ‘Blue’ and then moved to Gainesville, where she met her soon-to-be husband. After college, she taught English and Speech to middle-schoolers. Known for her dramatic flair, she was soon to be recruited as the drama coach by a local high school. To date, little compares with the joy, commitment, and unconditional love her students showered upon her.
One day, Andi woke up heavy, without her laughter, without her smile. Who was this image staring back at her when she looked into her mirror? While depressed and without much skill, intuitively, she turned to writing. Poetry helped her keep her light on during the darkest days of her life, which resulted in her first, soon-to-be-released collection of poems, ‘All Poems Must End’.
Andi hopes that by sharing her journey to the dark side of the moon, she touches one person’s heart, gives one person hope, or allows one person to know they are perfect as they are. If it does, then all she went through will have served a purpose.
Andi is grateful to be invited to share her poetry as a featured poet with VALA and looks forward to sharing other poets’ works, hearts, smiles, and tears with them.
During such fractured times, this Pollyanna of a woman believes people are born good, that light always finds a way to puncture darkness, and if all would try to leave those they encounter just a little bit happier than before, poetry will begin again.
Angelique N. Zobitz, May 14th
Angelique is a Chicago native poet, who received her B.A. in English (concentration in Creative Writing) from the University of Illinois at Chicago.
She is Poetry Editor at The Night Heron Barks and Ran Off with the Star Bassoon, and Contributing Editor at Cave Wall, a literary journal of poetry and art.
Born to a dope ass teen mom-word nerd-punk rock singer in the early 80's, she was raised on the Southside of Chicago, at the knee of farm folks from all over Louisiana who'd joined the military and moved North during the Great Migration to work in factories. Thus she grew up with a soul full of lyricism and an eye for detail.
Zobitz’s debut full length collection Seraphim (CavanKerry Press) was released in 2024.
She is also the author of the chapbooks Burn Down Your House (Milk & Cake Press, 2021) and Love Letters to The Revolution (American Poetry Journal, 2020).
Her work has been a finalist for the Jake Adam York Prize, Philip Levine Prize, St. Lawrence Prize, The Berkshire Prize, Tupelo Prize, and Georgia Poetry Prize and multi-nominated for the Best of the Net, Best New Poets, and the Pushcart Prize. Luna Luna Magazine named her one of '5 Poets of Color to watch in 2021' alongside Chen Chen and Amanda Gorman.
Her poetry has been published widely and can be found in The Journal, VIDA Review, The Adirondack Review, Sugar House Review, Glass: A Journal of Poetry's Poet Resist Series, Poets Reading the News, anomalous press, Night Heron Barks, So to Speak: a feminist journal of language + art, SWWIM, Rise Up Review, Pretty Owl Poetry, Rogue Agent, Psaltery & Lyre, Negative Capability Press, Mortar Magazine, Obsidian: Literature & Arts of the African Diaspora, Yemassee, The Midwest Review, CONSTRUCTION Lit Mag, Monologging and many others.
An admitted farmers market lurker, slow food lover, hip-hop head, trap and country music enthusiast, party planner, second generation word nerd and delightful contradiction, you'll always catch her with family, friends, books, poetry, coffee, rocking cowboy boots, protesting, volunteering on boards and committees, pondering the simple, the unique and the divine, and slinging poetry.
(https://angeliquezobitz.com/about)
(https://angeliquezobitz.com/about)
Tiff Holland, June 11th
Tiff Holland writes poetry, fiction, and creative non-fiction. Their work has been published in almost one hundred journals. They have published two chapbooks of flash fiction "Bone In a Tin Funnel" and "Betty Superman" the latter of which went on to win The Rose Metal Press 5th Annual Flash Fiction Contest which then went on to become the cornerstone of an anthology of novella-in-flash "My Very End of the Universe" which won an IPPY Award. In 2020 Tiff published their first full-length poetry manuscript "My Mother's Transvestites."
John Dorsey, July 16th
John Dorsey is the former Poet Laureate of Belle, MO. He is the author of several collections of poetry, including Which Way to the River: Selected Poems: 2016-2020 (OAC Books, 2020), Sundown at the Redneck Carnival, (Spartan Press, 2022, and Pocatello Wildflower, (Crisis Chronicles Press, 2023). He may be reached at [email protected].
Eben E. B. Bein, August 20th
Elaine McMilian, September 17th
Elaine McMilian wrote her first poem in junior high school, and whether it’s poetry, songs, or essays, she’s been a committed writer since. After graduating from the University of Missouri-Kansas City with a Creative Writing degree, she performed as a vocalist in genres as diverse as folk, alternative, classic rock, jazz standards, and punk. In more recent years, she’s shifted back to writing poetry and essays, showcasing her works on Substack in her blog, And Something More. In 2024, she fulfilled a lifelong dream of publishing a chapbook, Copper and Other Precious Metals.
Elaine McMilian wrote her first poem in junior high school, and whether it’s poetry, songs, or essays, she’s been a committed writer since. After graduating from the University of Missouri-Kansas City with a Creative Writing degree, she performed as a vocalist in genres as diverse as folk, alternative, classic rock, jazz standards, and punk. In more recent years, she’s shifted back to writing poetry and essays, showcasing her works on Substack in her blog, And Something More. In 2024, she fulfilled a lifelong dream of publishing a chapbook, Copper and Other Precious Metals.
Elaine lives in Kansas City, Missouri, with her husband Gaylon Umbarger. She often boasts about her seven exceptional grandchildren.
Saddiq M. Dzukogi, October 15th
Saddiq Dzukogi (born in Minna) is a Nigerian poet and assistant professor at Mississippi State University's Department of English.[1][2] He is the author of Your Crib, My Qibla, a highly-acclaimed poetry collection which has earned him the 2022 Derek Walcott Prize for Poetry, and the 2021 Julie Suk Award as a co-winner.[3] The collection was also shortlisted for the $100,000 Nigeria Prize for Literature.
Saddiq Dzukogi (born in Minna) is a Nigerian poet and assistant professor at Mississippi State University's Department of English.[1][2] He is the author of Your Crib, My Qibla, a highly-acclaimed poetry collection which has earned him the 2022 Derek Walcott Prize for Poetry, and the 2021 Julie Suk Award as a co-winner.[3] The collection was also shortlisted for the $100,000 Nigeria Prize for Literature.
Phynne~Belle, November 12th
Phynne~Belle is a San Francisco Bay Area poet, and teaching artist. She is Lead Editor of Mayari Literature Micro-Journal and co-director of The Poetry Global Network. This year, she has contributed to PGN’s first anthology, Kaleidoscopoetry, which includes works from poets across the globe. Phynne has one poetry collection titled, Some Days, Here. Through her online platform, Phynnecabulary, she organizes poetry events and programs that endeavor to make the literary arts (poetry in particular) accessible widely. You can follow her on Instagram @phynne_belle and on X @PhynneBelle.
Phynne~Belle is a San Francisco Bay Area poet, and teaching artist. She is Lead Editor of Mayari Literature Micro-Journal and co-director of The Poetry Global Network. This year, she has contributed to PGN’s first anthology, Kaleidoscopoetry, which includes works from poets across the globe. Phynne has one poetry collection titled, Some Days, Here. Through her online platform, Phynnecabulary, she organizes poetry events and programs that endeavor to make the literary arts (poetry in particular) accessible widely. You can follow her on Instagram @phynne_belle and on X @PhynneBelle.
Reading of Dorothy Parker’s “The False Friends” on Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTRVvH968/
Work included in anthologies:
“Rabbit Skin,” Sinew: Ten Years of Poetry in the Brew. https://aprilgloaming.com/shop/sinew-10-years-of-poetry-in-the-brew-2011-2021/
“Desert Horses,” The Bronx Memoir Project, Vol. V. https://www.amazon.com/Bronx-Memoir-Project-Council-Arts/dp/B09725DQ2T
“The Odyssey (Two Fish Swimming),” Kaleidoscopoetry: The First PGNthology. https://www.amazon.com/Kaleidoscopoetry-First-PGNthology-Martin-Grey/dp/1739288106
CashApp: $phynnebelle
Venmo: Tricia-DeJesus-Gutierrez
Agnes Vojta, December 10thAuthor Bio
Agnes Vojta grew up in Germany and now lives in Rolla, Missouri where she teaches physics at Missouri S&T and hikes the Ozarks. She is the author of Porous Land, The Eden of Perhaps, and A Coracle for Dreams (Spartan Press). Most recently, she has been collaborating with eight other poets on the book Wild Muse: Ozarks Nature Poetry (Cornerpost Press, 2022.) Her poems have appeared in a variety of magazines; you can read some of them on her website agnesvojta.com.