Sharing poems to
explore what’s important
Poetry Express is a collaborative poetry performance program that enables organizations and individuals to bring their community together.
Selected applicants are awarded two workshops with a prominent Maine poet for community members to write and/or perform poems. Program hosts then convene and present a community poetry performance event for their broader community.
“I didn’t expect to feel so empowered to express myself, which was terrifying and nice. I was really deeply scared in my body to do it, but I wanted to and this was a really safe and nurturing space to be working through my feels.”
—PARTICIPANT
Explore Past Programs
Pieces of Resistance
In partnership with the Maine Humanities Council, UUCB hosted a Poetry Express event entitled Pieces of Resistance. This featured prominent Maine poet Maya Williams, along with community poets who have been working in a workshop with Maya, including: Maureen Butler, Sam Caswell, Jane Danielsen, Peg Duston, Michael Greene, Jazmyne Peebles, and Libby Riggs
2022 Kick-off with Maine TransNet
Featuring poet Maya Williams, this event used Maine poetry to explore themes of gender euphoria, a world without gender, and peace for trans people.
2021 National Poetry Month Kick-off
See how Poetry Express works! Poets connected with MHC – staff, partners, facilitators, friends – perform and talk about poems that explore isolation and healing.
Poetry Express with The Telling Room
See some of the incredible youth poets from The Telling Room perform and discuss their poetry on Instagram Live. Hosted by Amanda Dettmann & Rachel Iradukunda.
Poetry Express with Southern Maine Women’s Re-Entry Center
Maine Kifah Abdulla hosts this remarkable poetry performance event. Poets from the Women’s Re-Entry Center share and reflect on their own poems and the work of other Maine poets.
Poetry Express with the Family Violence Project
Staff and community partners who work with the Family Violence Project perform the work of Maine poets and share their reflections on what it means to survive and heal from trauma. Hosted by poet and MHC Associate Director Samaa Abdurraqib.
Host an Event
Who will you convene?
Poetry Express offers individuals and organizations in Maine an opportunity to tailor a poetry experience to their community. Through the power and pleasure of performance and poetry, hosts bring Mainers together to reflect on themes and issues important to them—all with support from MHC and a prominent Maine poet. We award four programs a year.
Listen to Past Readings
Explore the 105 poetry readings that aired on WERU Community Radio between August 2019 and November 2021.
TOOLKIT
Toolkit for Poetry Express
Everything you need to help you convene your community for Poetry Express.