ATROCIOUS POETS

We put poetry where it doesn’t belong.

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.

TRADE YOUR WORRIES FOR BOOKS
Saturday, April 4 • 1:00 to 3:00 p.m.

Atrocious Poets Office • Woodstock Square Mall • 110 S. Johnson St. Woodstock IL
Things are grim out there, friends. Worries are stacking up like unpaid bills and we want to help. So this coming Saturday, stop by and see us at the poetry hovel between 1–3 p.m. Write down one of your worries (we’ll hold the heavy ones for you), and we’ll give you a poetry book in exchange. Trade those worries in for something with a better rhyme scheme. We have a brand-new stash of books for you to choose from, and one of them just might help you get through all of this.

POETRY ACADEMY FOR EARTHLINGS
Saturday, April 18 • 1:00 p.m. for youth and 3:00 p.m. for adults

Lake Geneva Public Library, 918 W. Main St., Lake Geneva, WI
Are you a human who is interested in creating very human poems? This writing workshop is for you (and definitely not for secret aliens). Join other organic Earthlings to write and illustrate micro-poems in an authentic Earth language. Your carbon-based workshop leader (Jaime Amadeus) will offer prompts, discussion, and art supplies. No experience is required for these cosmically lighthearted workshops, where silliness and experimentation are encouraged. Come to have fun creating and leave with poems suitable for posting on a fridge or anthropoid social-media platform.

BOOK DISCUSSION
Thursday, April 23 • 6:00 p.m.

The Records Department • 216 Main St., Woodstock, IL

This month we’ll be hosting a casual book discussion at The Records Department. The book we're reading is “You Better Be Lightning” by Andrea Gibson. If you’ve seen the documentary “Come See Me in the Good Light,” you’re already familiar with Gibson’s work. And life. And death. And death full of life. The most common response we've had to this book selection is, "Yay! Oh no, I'm going to cry in front of people." But if we're all crying, then it's kind of like no one is crying, right? Anyway, we'll bring kleenex just in case we all collectively lose it—laughing OR crying. If you need to source a copy of the book, just let us know. We have extras.

FIELD TRIP TO POETRY FEST
Saturday, April 25

Harold Washington Public Library • 400 S. State St., Chicago IL
The Chicago Public Library is celebrating its 27th Annual Poetry Fest and we're headed down to the city to enjoy it! We'll be taking the Metra into Chicago (time and station TBD) and then walking over to the Harold Washington Library. If you'd like to join us, email atrociouspoets@gmail.com and let us know. The complete list of events is on the library's event page.

WAX POETIC OPEN MIC
Third Thursday of each month • 6:30 to 8 p.m.
The Records Department • 315 E. South 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 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 • 1:00 to 3:00 p.m.
Atrocious Poets Office • Woodstock Square Mall • 110 S. Johnson St. Woodstock IL
On Saturday afternoons, we hang 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.

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.