Pour it up

Refill with this week's pour of all things poetry

Salena J. D.
June 18, 2025 • Estimated Reading Time: 8 minutes

⭐️ Top Shelf Pour

TDN Poetry Night At Crib PVD

Six featured poets are already lined up to share what's on their hearts, plus there's an open mic for those feeling brave enough to step to the stage. With a live DJ, vendors & more, make sure to bring cash if you want to support and snag something beautiful. Doors open at 8pm, but don't meet them there—beat them there!

https://tdnforever.com/

🏠️ Brew-It at Home

Top of the TBR Pile

Ever stumble across a book that feels like it was written just for you? That’s why this book is at the top of my summer reading list! This anthology is part handbook, part reference, wholly celebratory of the Black writer's essential role in art, history, and culture. More than 30 acclaimed Black writers fill it’s pages with new and previously published essays and interviews from literary giants sharing intimate reflections on their creative journeys. For those nights when the words won't come, or those mornings when imposter syndrome hits hard—this book feels like it would be a nice reminder of why I write in the first place.

https://bookshop.org/p/books/how-we-do-it-black-writers-on-writing-in-color/18859313

P.S.: I’m trying the whole #nonewbooks thing this summer & opting instead to borrow anything I want to read from the library (we’ll see if I can stick to it, but I really hope so since I’ve got shelves upon shelves and boxes upon boxes of books TBR 🙃) so I’ll be placing a hold on the “How We Do It” anthology to secure a copy. If you’re like me & on a budget, I highly suggest finding a library near you to do the same!

🗳️ Spill the Tea

I need your feedback on an idea that's been on my mind lately: What if we created a monthly poetry book club right here in Providence? Each month, we could gather to discuss a poetry chapbook and/or a craft essay or book (like the "How We Do It" anthology!). This would give us space to appreciate others' work while also developing our own craft—all in the company of fellow poetry lovers.

Would you be interested in joining a local poetry book club that meets monthly?

If there's enough interest, I'll start planning our first meetup. And if you have a favorite spot that might host us (Riffraff, perhaps?) let me know that too!

📤️ Pour Your Heart Out

Submit to the Ocean State Review

The Ocean State Review is currently accepting submissions, and I'm eager to see your voice represented in their pages. They are open to publishing various forms of creative work—poetry, fiction, nonfiction, art, scholarship with a creative bend, and book reviews. For poetry, you can submit 3-5 unpublished poems in a single document (just keep it under ten pages total).

https://oceanstatereview.org/

Their reading period runs from April 5 to November 30, giving you plenty of time to polish those pieces you've been workshopping at open mics. While there is a small $3 reading fee, they're open to discussing alternatives if that presents a barrier—just reach out directly to [email protected].

One thing to note for URI community members: current students can't submit, but alumni are welcome after three years post-graduation. So if you've been holding onto those poems from your college days (I know I have), now’s the perfect moment to give them new life!

Remember, every published piece started as a draft someone was brave enough to share. Will yours be next?

🏘️ Pour-trait of a Neighbor

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Major congratulations to Melaine King, who just won the 2025 Michael S. Harper Memorial Poetry Prize!

If you frequent the many literary spaces our cit yhas to offer, you may recognize Melaine from the open mic nights at Riffraff, LitArtsRI, and AfroVersePVD. Like Harper (the beloved Brown University professor and first State Poet of Rhode Island), Melaine's poetry investigates inner realities and finds "the lyrical expression of their secrets" in her authentic voice.

This is Melaine's first poetry prize, and her winning collection will be housed at the Brown University Archives—talk about leaving your mark on our local literary landscape! What I find particularly inspiring is how she credits our community spaces for giving her the courage to share publicly after years of solo writing. It's a beautiful reminder of why the work we do to nurture and keep these poetry spaces thriving matters so deeply.

Melaine's journey from "initial fear and reluctance" to prize-winning poet should be a shot of inspiration for all of us still hesitant to share our work. Her success shows what can brew when raw talent meets supportive community spaces.

Leave a comment @melainejking to congratulate her!