What's a Tulsa Poet To Do?

Being a poet living in Tulsa, I naturally look for groups or other poets, events of poetry readings, or workshops, things of that sort. It’s only natural for a person to seek out others who enjoy the same interests as you. Mine being a poet.
However, I’m sorry to say there ain’t much happenin’ in the world of poetry around Tulsa it seems.

I’m sure there are many poets out there. They just aren’t congregating in groups. Perhaps they’re closet poets.

I looked up “Tulsa Poets” on the web and only came across two references. One was for Tulsa Nimrod; which holds an annual writer’s contests. (mentioned here in an earlier blog post, and SWOT, an acronym for “Spoken Word of Tulsa”.
I was already familiar with Nimrod, so I read up on SWOT. What I found was disheartening.

Spoken Word of Tulsawas started in roughly 1997 / 1998 by Nancy Harris - with the vision to form an organization which could support the forming of a Tulsa poetry slam team to compete at the yearly National Poetry Slam event held by PSI.

Over the next 7 years, Nancy, as well as an entire community of local poets, writers, and performers would work tirelessly to bring poetry to the masses. They held open mics and poetry events at the Delaware Playhouse, Mayfest, the Nightingale Theatre, Harwelden Mansion, Club One, Curly's, Tulsa Artists Coalition, Gypsy Coffee House, The Bowery, Living Arts of Tulsa, All Souls Unitarian Church, the Transit Bar, the Loft Coffeehouse, Greenwood Cultural Center, just to name a few of the local venues.


SWOT's most recent official event was held in conjunction with the Tulsa Peace Fellowship and Market on 18th on June 28, 2003 on the bank of the Arkansas River, at the field near west Tulsa's skateboard park, and was called, "RiverJam". (DID YOU NOTICE THE DATE? 2003! FIVE YEARS AGO!
They brought together folks of all walks of life, and celebrated diversity and culture with an outdoor arts & crafts fair, and a full day of music from Latin and Afro-Cuban beats to exotic middle eastern dancing, to folk, hip-hop and spoken word.

This event was the culmination of what is possible in Tulsa - all cultures and people from everywhere in the city coming together in one place enjoy life, culture, the arts, and to communicate with and learn from each other.


Where is SWOT?
Well, 10 years after its inception, SWOT lies dormant, waiting for the right conditions before it rises from the ashes again.

Those of you looking for current poetry, spoken word, and art scene support might want to check out the Gypsy Coffee House, the Nightingale Theatre or Living Arts of Tulsa.
But I wouldn’t get my hopes up that any of those places are currently holding in Poet Reading Nights.

Down town Live!
Down town Tulsa is coming alive again with a new Arena, stadium, lofts, hotels, restaurants, bars, and shops. With all the changes it is important to have an easy system for winding your way around Downtown Tulsa. Down town Live provides maps you can carry around as well as this website which features detailed business listings, directions, reviews and photos to help you whether you're just trying to find a new lunch spot, plan an evening out, or just wow someone with your limitless knowledge of downtown.

It would be nice with all the excitement of revitalizing down town Tulsa, if some venues would open up for the poets and writers.

~J