A very tired poetry show

Description

On the afternoon of World Poetry Day, March 21, 2026, Decentered Arts opened the doors of Decentered Studio for A Very Tired Poetry Show, hosted by the ever-honest and endearing Al Frankie.

It began softly. Coffee steamed, tea warmed cold hands, and pastries passed between friends and strangers. The room gathered slowly—people settling into corners, into conversation, into presence—holding that familiar, gentle anticipation before the words began.

And then, despite the tiredness, the ritual continued: the show went on.

From early afternoon onward, voices rose one by one—poets stepping forward to share pieces that made the room laugh, ache, reflect, or quietly unravel. There were pauses, an intermission to breathe, and even a few unexpected moments of play and prizes—but mostly, it was about showing up together, in whatever state everyone arrived.

The reading held space for many voices, with an open invitation for others to join the lineup in honor of the day, the gathering, and the beautifully human need to speak and be heard.

As the final poems landed, the structure softened again—into hugs, conversation, and the slow unwinding of a shared afternoon. People lingered, not quite ready to leave, carrying pieces of each other’s words with them.

A tired show, maybe—but one full of heart, community, and the quiet resilience of poetry.