Poetry at the Art Center: Readers, Writers, and Listeners Wanted!
Join us at the Bonham Creative Arts Center for a monthly celebration of poetry in all its forms. Whether you write your own verses, love to share favorite poems, or simply enjoy listening to the power of words, you’ve found your community!
Each month, we’ll explore a different theme and poetic form, creating a relaxed space where poetry becomes accessible and alive. Share in any or all of our three rounds:
Round 1: Theme-based poems. You choose what the theme of the month means to you.
Round 2: Explorations of form. Share poems that fit the Literary Form of the Month. To find poems to share, simply ask your favorite web browser or AI assistant “Please help me find poems that feature [this month’s technique].”
Round 3: Open choice finale. If you want to share a winter poem in July, go for it! Love reading “The Raven” out loud? Do it! (Time limit is two minutes, so choose your favorite stanzas.)
No experience needed – just bring your love of language. We even have poems on hand if you’d like to join in but haven’t brought your own.
This adult (18+) group embraces poetry’s full range, from playful to profound. Come discover how poetic forms can serve feeling, and how ancient patterns can amplify modern voices. No critiques, no pressure – just the joy of experiencing poetry together.
Generally on Thursdays evenings from 6:30 – 8:00 pm
Questions? Contact: Michelle Haynes (949) 350-5335 | michelle@michellehaynes.com
2026 Schedule
Click the button(s) below to register!
Monthly Themes & Forms for July 2026
Join us Thursday, July 23, from 6:30-8 p.m. at the Bonham Creative Arts Center for an evening of poetry.
July Poetry Meeting:
In-person and online.
Share poems that you wrote or favorites written by others.
Form: Cinquain
We’re giving the Cinquain another try (it was our June form, too). The American cinquain is a single five-line stanza with a fixed syllable count: 2-4-6-8-2. It’s tiny, so you can write several and stack them.
Theme: Husk
Husk – cicada shells, corn, the molt; what gets left behind after transformation. A husk is evidence of transformation — proof that something happened here, that something changed, that something moved on. But husks carry their own weight too: they can be tender or brittle, protective or spent, a keepsake or a shedding. What have you outgrown? What remains after you’ve moved on?
See you in person or online!
~ Michelle
When
Thursday July 23, 2026 ⋅ 6:30pm – 8pm (Central Time – Chicago)
Location
Creative Arts Center, 200 W 5th St, Bonham, TX 75418, USA
Send Michelle an email to get the online link. michelle@michellehaynes.com
Please Register
While it is free to attend, we do strongly prefer that you register so we can adequately prepare the space for the event. Also, in the event of a last minute cancellation, we will know to contact you directly to let you know. Click the button(s) on this page, which correspond to the date you are planning on attending.