28-03-2025
Not just for poets: O, Miami Poetry Festival aims to reach diverse audience
O, Miami is on a mission to prove that poetry isn't a dusty or complicated thing.
Why it matters: The local nonprofit's annual poetry festival begins Tuesday, with poetry-inspired events across the city.
For one month, the group is hosting almost daily events ranging from performances and workshops to dinners.
Who's who: This year's event — the 12th annual — is the first time the organization's founder P. Scott Cunningham is no longer at the helm.
Melody Santiago Cummings and Caroline Cabrera, two longtime employees, were tapped in August to take over the organization.
What they're saying: The programming, Cabrera says, aims to highlight the work O, Miami does throughout the year and connect with diverse audiences.
Case in point: This year's lineup includes events like "Maternar-te," a workshop dedicated to "those who mother," whether that's raising children or caring for other loved ones. "Graveyard Poetry: A Workshop" is for those who want to explore themes of mortality and nature, among others.
This year's event also features two ticketed dinners: one at Boia De, the other at Recoveco.
The latter highlights "Soy de todas partes," a civic project about the immigrant experience, featuring a poetry vinyl installation.
"Pairing food or drink with poetry is a great formula [and] a really great entry point for someone who isn't sure they're into poetry," says Cabrera.
"Poetry really is this communal medium, and food is that, too."
The bottom line: No matter your interests, there's likely an event for you.
"Anyone that has an opinion about this place, has an emotion and writes it down, is a poet," Cabrera says. "That's the beauty of this festival."
Here are a few events we're keeping on our radar:
April 4: A poetry reading event with Rio Cortez, Z. Yasmin Waheed and Romeo Oriogun at The Cleat Mia. (Free)
April 6: "Poetry for Preservation" is a writing workshop at Oleta River State Park. Eventgoers' nature poems will be sent to Gov. Ron DeSantis' office to advocate for park preservation. ($15)
April 23: ZipOdes Finale at Vizcaya Museum & Gardens offers readings from all the ZipOde finalists and the end of the "Ode to Your Zip Code" campaign.
