Touch Poetry — Atrocious Poets

A vintage vending machine sits in a hallway. The sign on front reads Liminal Space Photo Booth. A small video screen at the top shows an 80s-style graphic.

Touch the poetry

WE ENCOURAGE IT.

Our space in the Woodstock Square Mall is all about poetry you can play with. Technically we inhabit an oversized closet under the stairs, but poetry leaks out of the walls and sprawls out on the counter, waiting for you. Listen to a poem on our poetry phone. Make a poem on the magnet board. Pick up some reading recommendations in the waiting room that vaguely reminds you of a 1980s doctor’s office. Pull up to our wood-paneled vending machine that’s constantly changing: you might get a poem that looks like a fortune from a rodent, a poetic message from your future self, or a tiny art print that is guaranteed* to cure your specific malady. This ever-evolving, slightly inexplicable space offers up a rotisserie of experiments and games and nonsense that have no purpose other than to remind you that poetry exists for you. So please touch the poetry. We’ll be disappointed if you don’t.

*Listen, guarantee might be too strong of a word.

COME ALONG

TURN UP AND DO POETRY WITH US.

INVISIBLE INK
November 15 • 12 to 2
Blue Lotus Temple • 221 Dean St. Woodstock, IL
$30
Some poems are written in invisible ink. They transform hate into love, ugliness into beauty, answers into questions, and then they disappear. Join us at the Blue Lotus Temple to explore the concepts of impermanence and transformation in this poetry-writing workshop. We will work together through a series of writing exercises using different erasure-poetry techniques. You’ll take home a resource packet and writing prompts to help you expand on the writing done in the workshop. This workshop is for adults and does not require any previous poetry-writing experience. Register on Eventbrite.

WAX POETIC OPEN MIC
Third Thursday of each month • 6:30 to 8 p.m.
The Records Department • 216 Main St. Woodstock, IL
Every third Thursday we co-host a poetry open mic at the coolest record shop in town, The Records Department. Join us for some fine poetry shenanigans. Sign up at the door to read your stuff or just hang out and soak in the poetry. The shop is wheelchair accessible.

SATURDAYS AT THE MALL
Most Saturdays • 11:30 to 1:30 p.m.
Atrocious Poets Office • Woodstock Square Mall • 110 S. Johnson St. Woodstock IL
On Saturday afternoons, we hang out at our office in the Woodstock Square Mall. Drop by to do a writing exercise, check out our vending machine, or just say hi. (Schedules change quicker than this website. So check our Instagram for updated info.) Mall is wheelchair accessible through the east entrance.

If you require additional accommodation in order to attend any of our events, please let us know 2 weeks ahead of time. We will do our best to make sure you can comfortably participate.

SERIOUSLY, THOUGH

WE ARE A 501(C)3 NONPROFIT WITH A CHECKING ACCOUNT AND A MISSION STATEMENT AND EVERYTHING.

Here’s our mission statement:
The Atrocious Poets connect people through poetry. We look for unexpected and engaging ways to bring poetry into the everyday life of our community. We spark conversations and provoke reflection, helping people find meaning in their own and others' experiences.

And you can donate here:

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