The Poetry Menu

Unless noted, times listed are Central Time.
How do events get listed on the Nebraska Poetry Menu? With your help! We can't find all the info ourselves, so send additions, changes, comments, and suggestions to poetrymenu@googlegroups.com. The Poetry Menu aims to be a great, free resource for Nebraska's poetry-centered events... Omaha poetry, Lincoln poetry, Scottsbluff, Kearney, Wayne, Norfolk, we want to make sure it's all here for you.

Color Codes: Recurring (monthly-ish) Event and Online-Only


  • 6/13, F-- 6-8pm, Poetry Readings at The Lion: a Poetry Feature and Open Mic at St Mark's on the Campus (1309 R St, Lincoln). Each event has a featured reader from 6-7:30pm and open mic in any remaining time up to 8pm. Doors open at 5:30pm. See full details at:sites.google.com/view/smoc-lion. (2nd Friday)
    6/13, Jewel Rodgers
    7/11: Jessica Poli and Katie Marya
    8/8, 9/12 TBA

  • 6/14, Sa-- 10am: The Nebraska Poetry Society presents online writing workshops on different topics, led by some wonderful poets on a Saturday each month. $35 or free to members. For more information and to register, go to: nepoetrysociety.org/workshops:
    6/14: Matt Mason: Playlist-Turning Songs Into Poetry
    7/12: Maria Zoccola, Adapting Classical Mythology
    8/23: Brad Modlin, Randomness in Art, Poetry, & Your Life

  • 6/14, Sa-- 7-9pm, The Omaha Poetry Slam at The Local Art Plug (1722 St Mary's Ave, Omaha). 6:30 doors, 7:00 show. See details at the Facebook Event Page. Sponsored by the Nebraska Writers Collective. (2nd Saturday)
    Next events: 7/12, 8/9, 9/13, etc.

  • 6/18 W (DIFFERENT DAY, THIS MONTH ONLY)-- 7-9pm, Vocal Fry, a monthly spoken word open mic at Local Art Plug (Flatiron Building, 1722 St Marys Ave, Omaha). Vocal Fry is presented in collaboration with The Nebraska Poetry Society. Doors open at 6:30 with performances starting at 7. No registration is required. (3rd Thursday)
    Next events: 7/17, 8/21, 9/18, etc.

  • 6/19, Th-- 5-8pm, The Poetry Pause at Joslyn Castle Art Walk In the Carriage House at Joslyn Castle & Gardens (3902 Davenport St, Omaha). Two local poets will be reading their work, talking about their creative process, and chatting with each other—and with you. See details at: https://www.nepoetrysociety.org/spoken-word. (3rd Thursday, June-September)
    6/19: Emily Anderson and Rayni Wekluk
    7/17: Todd Robinson and Luke Koesters
    8/21: Trey Moody and Sarah Larsen
    9/18 : Lisa Fay Coutley and Rosine Selemani

  • 6/19 Th-- 6:30-7:30pm, Writers in Conversation, Third Thursdays @ Larksong at Larksong Writers Place (1600 N Cotner Blvd, Lincoln). Each month Writers in Conversation invites two writers at differing stages of their writing career to share their work and engage one another in conversation about the craft of creative writing. The conversation is then opened to the entire audience for a lively discussion of all things literary. Social Time 6-6:30. Free. (3rd Thursday)
    6/19 TBA
    Next events: 7/17, 8/21, 9/18, etc.

  • 6/28, Sa-- 8:30-10:30am, Join the Nebraska Alliance for Physician Advocacy and former Nebraska State Poet Matt Mason for an Ode-Writing Workshop in the Main Atrium at Nebraska Cancer Specialists (Midwest Cancer Center, Legacy: 17201 Wright St, Omaha). $25 suggested donation, to register, see: This Google Form.



  • 7/1: The Nebraska Poetry Society presents the Nebraska Poets Reading Series at 6:30pm on the first Tuesday of the month. See details at: nepoetrysociety.org/readings. Events are online, free and open to the public:
    7/1, Hadara Bar-Nadav
    8/5, Janice N. Harrington
    9/2, Nebraska State Poet Jewel Rodgers

  • 7/3, Th-- 7pm, Verse & Vibes open mic night at Indigo Cottage Crafts (2063 Creekside Dr, Papillion). This event is sponsored by the Nebraska Poetry Society, doors open at 6:30, free and open to all. (1st Thursday)
    Next events: 8/7, 9/4, 10/2, 11/6 etc.

  • 7/4, F-- Noon, First Friday Book Talk and Reading through Larksong Writers Place but on Zoom. Register at: larksongwritersplace.org. Free, registration required.
    7/4, TBA
    9/5, Sue William Silverman

  • 7/10, Th-- 6:30-7:30pm, Stories and Rhymes for Difficult Times: Cultivating our Emotional Heritage with Jerry Bockoven at the Norfolk Public Library (308 W. Prospect Ave, Norfolk). Marrying art with psychology, the presentation will use the language of poetry and storytelling to address ways to manage such emotional challenges as depression, anxiety, anger and grief. This presentation is part of Humanities Nebraska's Speakers Bureau, see more at: humanitiesnebraska.org.

  • 7/10, Th-- 7-9pm, The Lincoln Poetry Slam at Larksong Writers Place (1600 N Cotner Blvd, Lincoln). 6:30 doors, 7:00 show. See details at the Facebook Event Page. Sponsored by the Nebraska Writers Collective. (2nd Thursday)
    Next events: 8/14, 9/11, 10/9, 11/13, etc.

  • 7/11, F-- 6-8pm, Poetry Readings at The Lion: a Poetry Feature and Open Mic at St Mark's on the Campus (1309 R St, Lincoln). Each event has a featured reader from 6-7:30pm and open mic in any remaining time up to 8pm. Doors open at 5:30pm. See full details at:sites.google.com/view/smoc-lion. (2nd Friday)
    7/11: Jessica Poli and Katie Marya
    8/8, 9/12, 10/10: TBA

  • 7/12, Sa-- 10am: The Nebraska Poetry Society presents online writing workshops on different topics, led by some wonderful poets on a Saturday each month. $35 or free to members. For more information and to register, go to: nepoetrysociety.org/workshops:
    7/12: Maria Zoccola, Adapting Classical Mythology
    8/23: Brad Modlin, Randomness in Art, Poetry, & Your Life
    9/13: Abby E. Murray, How to Sing in the Dark
    10/18: Melissa Fite Johnson, Humor in Poetry

  • 7/12, Sa-- 7-9pm, The Omaha Poetry Slam at The Local Art Plug (1722 St Mary's Ave, Omaha). 6:30 doors, 7:00 show. See details at the Facebook Event Page. Sponsored by the Nebraska Writers Collective. (2nd Saturday)
    Next events: 8/9, 9/13, etc.

  • 7/14, M-- 7pm, Resonance Beat Poetry Jam at Razor Wire Productions Art Gallery & Tattoo (1808 Vinton St, Omaha). Wanna try your hand at pairing your writing with music? Or maybe you've just never had the sublime experience of hearing the fusion? Either way, we would like to invite you! Named The Resonance for the beautiful ways these artforms play off one another. Doors open at 6:30. Sponsored by the Nebraska Poetry Society. (2nd Monday)
    Next events: 8/11, 9/8, 10/13, 11/10, etc.

  • 7/17, Th-- 5-8pm, The Poetry Pause at Joslyn Castle Art Walk In the Carriage House at Joslyn Castle & Gardens (3902 Davenport St, Omaha). Two local poets will be reading their work, talking about their creative process, and chatting with each other—and with you. See details at: https://www.nepoetrysociety.org/spoken-word. (3rd Thursday, June-September)
    7/17: Todd Robinson and Luke Koesters
    8/21: Trey Moody and Sarah Larsen
    9/18 : Lisa Fay Coutley and Rosine Selemani

  • 7/17 Th-- 6:30-7:30pm, Writers in Conversation, Third Thursdays @ Larksong at Larksong Writers Place (1600 N Cotner Blvd, Lincoln). Each month Writers in Conversation invites two writers at differing stages of their writing career to share their work and engage one another in conversation about the craft of creative writing. The conversation is then opened to the entire audience for a lively discussion of all things literary. Social Time 6-6:30. Free. (3rd Thursday)
    7/17 TBA
    Next events: 8/21, 9/18, etc.

  • 7/17 Th-- 7-9pm, Vocal Fry, a monthly spoken word open mic at Local Art Plug (Flatiron Building, 1722 St Marys Ave, Omaha). Vocal Fry is presented in collaboration with The Nebraska Poetry Society. Doors open at 6:30 with performances starting at 7. No registration is required. (3rd Thursday)
    Next events: 8/21, 9/18, 10/16, 11/20, etc.



  • 8/1, F-- Noon, First Friday Book Talk and Reading through Larksong Writers Place but on Zoom. Register at: larksongwritersplace.org. Free, registration required.
    8/1, TBA
    9/5, Sue William Silverman

  • 8/5: The Nebraska Poetry Society presents the Nebraska Poets Reading Series at 6:30pm on the first Tuesday of the month. See details at: nepoetrysociety.org/readings. Events are online, free and open to the public:
    8/5, Janice N. Harrington
    9/2, Nebraska State Poet Jewel Rodgers
    10/7, Mary K. Stillwell
    11/4, Charles Fort

  • 8/7, Th-- 7pm, Verse & Vibes open mic night at Indigo Cottage Crafts (2063 Creekside Dr, Papillion). This event is sponsored by the Nebraska Poetry Society, doors open at 6:30, free and open to all. (1st Thursday)
    Next events: 9/4, 10/2, 11/6 etc.

  • 8/8, F-- 6-8pm, Poetry Readings at The Lion: a Poetry Feature and Open Mic at St Mark's on the Campus (1309 R St, Lincoln). Each event has a featured reader from 6-7:30pm and open mic in any remaining time up to 8pm. Doors open at 5:30pm. See full details at:sites.google.com/view/smoc-lion. (2nd Friday)
    7/11: Jessica Poli and Katie Marya
    9/12: Alina Nguyễn
    8/8, 10/10: TBA

  • 8/9, Sa-- 7-9pm, The Omaha Poetry Slam at The Local Art Plug (1722 St Mary's Ave, Omaha). 6:30 doors, 7:00 show. See details at the Facebook Event Page. Sponsored by the Nebraska Writers Collective. (2nd Saturday)
    Next events: 9/13, 10/11, 11/8, etc.

  • 8/11, M-- 7pm, Resonance Beat Poetry Jam at Razor Wire Productions Art Gallery & Tattoo (1808 Vinton St, Omaha). Wanna try your hand at pairing your writing with music? Or maybe you've just never had the sublime experience of hearing the fusion? Either way, we would like to invite you! Named The Resonance for the beautiful ways these artforms play off one another. Doors open at 6:30. Sponsored by the Nebraska Poetry Society. (2nd Monday)
    Next events: 9/8, 10/13, 11/10, etc.

  • 8/14, Th-- 7-9pm, The Lincoln Poetry Slam at Larksong Writers Place (1600 N Cotner Blvd, Lincoln). 6:30 doors, 7:00 show. See details at the Facebook Event Page. Sponsored by the Nebraska Writers Collective. (2nd Thursday)
    Next events: 9/11, 10/9, 11/13, etc.

  • 8/21, Th-- 5-8pm, The Poetry Pause at Joslyn Castle Art Walk In the Carriage House at Joslyn Castle & Gardens (3902 Davenport St, Omaha). Two local poets will be reading their work, talking about their creative process, and chatting with each other—and with you. See details at: https://www.nepoetrysociety.org/spoken-word. (3rd Thursday, June-September)
    8/21: Trey Moody and Sarah Larsen
    9/18 : Lisa Fay Coutley and Rosine Selemani

  • 8/21, Th-- 6:30-7:30pm, Writers in Conversation, Third Thursdays @ Larksong at Larksong Writers Place (1600 N Cotner Blvd, Lincoln). Each month Writers in Conversation invites two writers at differing stages of their writing career to share their work and engage one another in conversation about the craft of creative writing. The conversation is then opened to the entire audience for a lively discussion of all things literary. Social Time 6-6:30. Free. (3rd Thursday)
    Next events: 9/18, 10/16, 11/20, etc.

  • 8/21 Th-- 7-9pm, Vocal Fry, a monthly spoken word open mic at Local Art Plug (Flatiron Building, 1722 St Marys Ave, Omaha). Vocal Fry is presented in collaboration with The Nebraska Poetry Society. Doors open at 6:30 with performances starting at 7. No registration is required. (3rd Thursday)
    Next events: 9/18, 10/16, 11/20, etc.

  • 8/23, Sa-- 10am: The Nebraska Poetry Society presents online writing workshops on different topics, led by some wonderful poets on a Saturday each month. $35 or free to members. For more information and to register, go to: nepoetrysociety.org/workshops:
    8/23: Brad Modlin, Randomness in Art, Poetry, & Your Life
    9/13: Abby E. Murray, How to Sing in the Dark
    10/18: Melissa Fite Johnson, Humor in Poetry



  • 9/13, Sa-- 3:30pm, Nebraska's New State Poet, Jewel Rogers, joins us for Poetry in the Mill at The Florence Mill (9102 N 30th St, Omaha). Her reading will wake you up to how lively and fun poetry can be.






Navigate The Poetry Menu:


Arts Organizations

Poetry Resources

Series and Festivals

Presses

Independent Bookstores

Aurora: Bellevue: Columbus: Kearney: La Vista: Lincoln: Omaha: Papillion: Seward:




The Poetry Menu is a community, not an individual effort:
contribute additions, changes, and cancellations to: poetrymenu@googlegroups.com.


This marvelous site maintained by Nebraska State Poet Matt Mason (see more at Midverse.com)
with design help from Monica Ghali, Andrew Daum, Jason Valandra, and Ken Boucher.

Last update: June 12th, 2025

No poets were harmed in the making of this Menu