FEATURED PERFORMER

Grace Claire Przywara is a poet from South Carolina who co-leads the Aiken Poets. Her poetry has appeared in Ekstasis Magazine, Amethyst Review, Solum Press, Heart of Flesh Literary Journal, and Canada’s The Christian Courier, among others, and has been featured by human rights organizations Rehumanize International and Catholic Mobilizing Network. Her work can be followed at graceclairepoetry.substack.com

January Theme: THE WHY’S
Featured Performer: BROTHA TRAV THE GODBROTHA
Open mic signup begins at 5:30pm. Feature act begins at 6:00pm.

Poet Brotha Trav the Godbrotha’s background is rooted in spoken word poetry, with a performance style that blends powerful lyrics and storytelling. Brotha Trav’s poetry is often improvisational, tackling topics like social chaos and turmoil. His performances feature him as the lead artist, sometimes accompanied by musicians. His work combines elements of poetry, jazz, and neo-soul, as seen in his live album “Poetry, Jazz, & Neo-Soul ‘The Live Album’.” Brotha Trav occasionally performs with his wife, Sista La, who provides vocals.

Brotha Trav’s performance style suggests a strong connection to his community and a desire to inspire and uplift through his work. Brotha Trav was named Augusta’s Poet Laureate and has received numerous awards for his work, the most recent is a Proclamation/Commendation from Augusta Commissioner Jordan Johnson. Brotha Trav is also the Founder and CEO of Uprise Events and Entertainment and has promoted and hosted shows in metro Augusta for over 25 years.

UPCOMING

• February 19
  Feature: MOSES FREEMAN
  Theme: BLACK X SOUL
• February 31 – March 31
  Online registration for Spoken Word Poetry Contest 2026
  Get ready to send one typed and one recorded copy of your best original poem
  Winners will be announced and will perform on April 25, 2026 at BEING Heard!
• March 19
  Feature: TK “TAKE KARE” DEARK
  Theme: TBA
• April 16
  Feature: CathyB (aka KATKA)
  Theme: SOUTHERN PERFUME
• April 25
  National Poetry Month Celebration BEING Heard  to include:
  – Poetry-related workshops by published poets
  – Announcement of Spoken Word Poetry Contest Winners
  – Performances of winning poems
  – Open mic for all

Open mic signup begins at 5:30. Featured poet begins at 6:00.

October Theme/Writing Prompt: TBA
October Featured Performer: BUGSY CALHOUN

Bio
Jamal Washington (Bugsy Calhoun), a poet emcee born and raised in the OceanHill Brownsville section of Brooklyn NY, debuted his poetry at the Brooklyn Moon. He is founding member of the Unusual Suspects poetry Troop and member of Black on Black Rhyme and the slam master of Columbia’s slam team Tribe Slam. He Co-hosts an open mic at The House of Hathor called the J.A.M. Session with his wife (Wintah Storm) Karen Joyner Washington. He also has 6 spoken word and hip hop music projects on https://bugsycalhoun.bandcamp.com/album/barznstanzas

Bugsy works in the community using his poetry to build Bridges not barriers. He works with Tracy Oakman who runs the Princess Empowerment and Boyz II Men infused mentoring program. Coming out of the COVID lockdown he pivoted his focus and is now the leading organizer and advocate for spoken word poets in the Midlands.

For information about ART OF WORDS and other poetry events at ACPL contact cathyb@abbe-lib.org or call:
Reference Desk at 803-642-2020 ext 3

Open mic signup begins at 5:30. Featured poet begins at 6:00.

November Theme/Writing Prompt: DON’T STOP WALKIN’
November Featured Performer: VANESSA L. HARRIS (a.k.a. MOST ELEVATED DEEPNESS)

Originally from Mississippi, Vanessa L. Harris (poetically known as Most Elevated Deepness) is a Mom/Singer/ Songwriter/Spoken Word Poet/ Visual Artist and Retired Army Veteran who now lives in Augusta and is known throughout surrounding areas for her song-infused style of Spoken Word Poetry. After serving her country proudly as a welder she retired due to a head injury sustained in combat. She hasn’t let her disability stop her from living in and on purpose!

Vanessa has hosted numerous spoken word open mics and appeared this year on the Soul Stage at Arts in the Heart. She has also volunteered with Augusta Literary nonprofits aiding her ambition to motivate children and adults to fall in love with words and to recognize the power those words possess.

Vanessa Harris says that although she’s experienced a lot, her greatest achievement in life is being a mother. She states, “It’s the most difficult but equally rewarding mission that I’ve ever embarked upon.”

For information about ART OF WORDS and other poetry events at ACPL contact cathyb@abbe-lib.org or call:
Reference Desk at 803-642-2020 ext 3

Open mic signup begins at 5:30. Featured poet begins at 6:00.

October Theme/Writing Prompt: HORRORS!
October Featured Performer: JEZIBELL ANAT

Jezibell Anat is a writer, actor, and bellydancer who performs throughout the CSRA. She is currently the host of “Spoken Woods” at Back to Nature Garden Center, and loves all things Halloween.

For information, contact cathyb@abbe-lib.org or the Reference Desk at 803-642-2020 ext 3

Questions or early signup? Contact Cathy at: 803-642-2020, ext 3 or email cathyb@abbe-lib.org

At the event, open mic signup begins at 5:30pm
Featured performer begins at 6:00 pm
Theme for September: PHASES

FEATURED PERFORMER SHAI MOONLIGHT
Shai (pronounced “shy”) Moonlight is a Columbia-based poet, host and “artivist.” A member of the Poetree Family and New Danger, she began performing spoken word in March 2024, after over two decades as a written word artist. Shai is the mother of three amazingly unique kids and works as a healthcare professional by day. Her purpose in poetry is to be an ever-changing and ever-present light

.

Tera Jackson was born in Augusta, Georgia and raised in North Augusta, SC. She first learned poetry from her paternal Grandmother Mazanna Jackson at her kitchen table. Her first stage was in front of her Grandmother’s furnace. She is the mother of two beautiful, smart girls – Rodricka and Garyel – and the daughter of Reverend Herman and Minister Patricia Jackson.

Tera is a graduate of North Augusta High School and a very proud HBCU Alumni of  SC State University and Voorhees University. She holds a Masters Degree from Nova Southeastern University. She is in residency at Augusta Museum of History.

Tera is an actor coached by  Choice Skinner, a Voiceover Actor coached by Casaundra Freeman, and a member of the award winning Work With Your Voice Black Women’s Edition. She has been invited to walk the red carpets of Lagos,Nigeria, Hollywood California and London, England.

Co-hosts Tamell (Big) Bailey and CathyB are delighted to welcome this month’s featured poet and thank ACPL for providing a safe, welcoming space with such a great opportunity for adults and young adults to practice performance skills in front of a small audience, receive feedback, and get inspiration for creating new performance pieces. 

Participants will need to sign up by 5:45 in order to be included in the open mic. Each open mic performer may speak for up to three minutes on any radio-friendly/family-friendly topic.

For further information, contact Cathy Benedetto
(803) 642-2020 ext 3 or email cathyb@abbe-lib.org

Wintah Storm is a spoken word artist from Allendale, SC. She is the author of two books: An Affair of the Mind, the thoughts and feelings of a one-sided affair and Girlfriend Moments. She also has two projects that are available on all streaming platforms: Fire and Desire, and The Pages of my Diary.

Co-hosts Tamell (Big) Bailey and CathyB are delighted to welcome this month’s featured poet and thank ACPL for providing a safe, welcoming space with such a great opportunity for adults and young adults to practice performance skills in front of a small audience, receive feedback, and get inspiration for creating new performance pieces. 

Participants will need to sign up by 5:45 in order to be included in the open mic. Each open mic performer may speak for up to five minues on any radio-friendly/family-friendly topic.

For further information, contact Cathy Benedetto
(803) 642-2020 ext 3 or email cathyb@abbe-lib.org

Co-hosts Tamell (Big) Bailey and CathyB are delighted to welcome this month’s featured poet, Alyssa Gabrielle, an almost-21-year-old poet from North Augusta, SC. Alyssa, who got her start performing at Art of Words (AOW) during our first months in 2024, frequently presents her poems for the AOW open mic. She has one self-published collection, Lacerated Chaotic Mind, and has been published in various collections and journals. She also runs a creative website, Campbell Curiosities.

In recent years, Alyssa has started doing readings, videography, and scriptwriting, including an audio drama production for Lander University. Her newest book, 20 in 24, will come out later this year. She has been writing any and everything she can as long as she remembers and uses it as a way to pour out any emotions, positive and negative, she may have.

This is a great opportunity for adults and young adults to practice performance skills in front of a small audience, receive feedback, and get inspiration for creating new performance pieces. Participants will need to sign up by 5:45 in order to be included in the open mic. Each open mic performer may speak for up to five minues on any radio-friendly/family-friendly topic. For those wanting a writing prompt, the June Theme is BRAIN STORM!

For further information, contact Cathy Benedetto
(803) 642-2020 ext 3 or email cathyb@abbe-lib.org

This monthly event is a great opportunity for adults and young adults to practice performance skills in front of a small audience, receive feedback, and get inspiration for creating new performance pieces.

The suggested theme for May is “STARTING OVER”

Eric Lawson’s poetry books, Leaving Long Beach and Time for Plan B are available for purchase on Amazon.

Open mic signup begins at 5:30PM on the event day (a 5-minute max performance)
The show starts at 6:00 PM in the first-floor meeting room

For more information, all 803-642-2020 extension 3 or email one of the hosts:
cathyb@abbe-lib.org or bailey@bigbailey.com