Touch the poetry
WE ENCOURAGE IT.
Our space in the Woodstock Square Mall is all about poetry you can play with. Technically we inhabit an oversized closet under the stairs, but poetry leaks out of the walls and sprawls out on the counter, waiting for you. Listen to a poem on our poetry phone. Make a poem on the magnet board. Pick up some reading recommendations in the waiting room that vaguely reminds you of a 1980s doctor’s office. Pull up to our wood-paneled vending machine that’s constantly changing: you might get a poem that looks like a fortune from a rodent, a poetic message from your future self, or a tiny art print that is guaranteed* to cure your specific malady. This ever-evolving, slightly inexplicable space offers up a rotisserie of experiments and games and nonsense that have no purpose other than to remind you that poetry exists for you. So please touch the poetry. We’ll be disappointed if you don’t.
*Listen, guarantee might be too strong of a word.
COME ALONG
TURN UP AND DO POETRY WITH US.
WAX POETIC OPEN MIC
Third Thursday of each month • 6:30 to 8 p.m.
The Records Department • 216 Main St. Woodstock, IL
Every third Thursday we co-host a poetry open mic at the coolest record shop in town, The Records Department. Join us over at their new spot on Main St. for some fine poetry shenanigans. Sign up at the door to read your stuff or just hang out and soak in the poetry. The shop is wheelchair accessible.
SATURDAYS AT THE MALL
Most Saturdays • 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Atrocious Poets Office • Woodstock Square Mall • 110 S. Johnson St. Woodstock IL
Saturdays from 11 to 1 we’ll be hanging out at our office in the Woodstock Square Mall. Drop by to do a writing exercise, check out our vending machine, or just say hi. (Schedules change quicker than this website. So check our Instagram for updated info.) Mall is wheelchair accessible through the east entrance.
POETRY MAPPING
Sunday, October 27 • 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Glacial Park • 6705 State Route 31 Ringwood, IL
We're creating a poetry map of Glacial Park, and we'd like your help. Join us on a 1.5-mile hike through this beautiful conservation district site. We'll stop at points along the way to respond to writing prompts. After the event, you're invited to polish the poems you started on the hike and send them to us so we can incorporated them into our poetry map of the trail. The poetry map will be released on YouTube and Instagram for others to use. The event is free, but please register on eventbrite.
If you require additional accommodation in order to attend any of our events, please let us know 2 weeks ahead of time. We will do our best to make sure you can comfortably participate.
SERIOUSLY, THOUGH
WE ARE A 501(C)3 NONPROFIT WITH A CHECKING ACCOUNT AND A MISSION STATEMENT AND EVERYTHING.
Here’s our mission statement:
The Atrocious Poets connect people through poetry. We look for unexpected and engaging ways to bring poetry into the everyday life of our community. We spark conversations and provoke reflection, helping people find meaning in their own and others' experiences.
And you can donate here:
ROLODEX
FIND US
In our closet under the stairs on the ground floor the Woodstock Square Mall
110 S. Johnson St., “Suite” 101
Woodstock, IL 60098
On Instagram and Threads
@atrocious_poets
On Mark Zuckerberg’s Emporium of Neighborhood Grievances and Racist Uncles
/atrociouspoets
Via email
atrociouspoets@gmail.com
Bouncing around rural cell towers
815-527-6630
We regret that we do not have a fax machine. Sincerely.