Dark City Poets Society debuts in new home
107 Market and Deli to host monthly readings
Fred McCormick
The Valley Echo
May 16, 2023
Black Mountain Library Branch Manager Melisa Pressley, who founded the Dark City Poets Society with Clint Bowman in 2020, prepares for the May 16 debut of Poetry Night in 107 Market and Deli. Photo by Fred McCormick
While many enjoy a relaxing evening at home on the third Tuesday of each month, for a growing number of local lyricists in the Dark City Poets Society it brings an opportunity to share their thoughts and feelings with the world.
As Poetry Night debuts in its new home at 107 Market and Deli, Tuesday, May 16, dozens of artists will present their latest work in a safe and supportive space.
Monthly readings have been part of the DCPS experience since 2021, according to Clint Bowman, who founded the group with Black Mountain Library Branch Manager Melisa Pressley in 2020. They represent one of two regular gatherings of the artistic collective, which also assembles at the library for critique meetings on the first Tuesday of every month.
Poetry Night, which was previously hosted by BAD Craft and the Lowdown, is free and open to the public, while those interested in sharing poetry can sign up 15 minutes before the event. Each participant is allowed three to five minutes to read or recite their work.
The readings have become increasingly popular over the years, according to Bowman.
“In the warmer months of last year, we were averaging 70 people, with around 20-25 of them sharing their work,” he said. “It’s really warm and welcoming, and we try to keep it as relaxed as possible. It’s a very vulnerable position, sharing thoughts and feelings you haven’t shared with anyone else, so it’s important to have a supportive environment.”
The atmosphere of encouragement has been well-received by poets from all over Western N.C., according to Pressley.
“There is this sense of community that it’s building, and it’s great to see,” she said. “We already have such a rich artistic community here in Black Mountain, but to see the literary piece of it grow has been remarkable. We also have people who travel across the county, and even from another state, because there’s not really anything like it in the region.”
The isolation many felt during the COVID-19 pandemic likely impacted how a number of people view poetry, she added.
“I think the perception of poetry shifted, and it doesn’t feel like it’s a very esoteric and unattainable goal for writers,” Pressley said. “The pandemic allowed a lot of people to explore that side of themselves, and I think we’re seeing an outgrowth of that contemplative nature that many turned to during COVID.”
A platform that allows both novice and experienced poets to share, instead of perform, creates added interest, Bowman added.
“I always tell people in the very beginning not to judge one another, be respectful of each other and understand we all have differing thoughts, opinions and backgrounds,” he said. “That’s really the attitude that everybody brings to our meetings, which I believe is another thing that makes these readings kind of unique.”
The indoor-outdoor venue at 107 Market and Deli offered an ideal setting as DCPS searched for a new home for Poetry Night, following the closure of the Lowdown and pending closure of BAD Craft.
“We had a great time at both of those places,” Bowman said. “We still wanted a space that was the right fit for this event, and (Joseph Morris) at Cup of Jomo has always been a great supporter of DCPS. So, this felt like a natural fit.”
The location allows the group to host the gathering outdoors, and quickly move inside for inclement weather. 107 Market and Deli will donate 10% of drink sales on Poetry Night to the Friends of the Black Mountain Library.
DCPS will welcome the Black Mountain Counseling Center, a nonprofit organization that offers professional mental health counseling to uninsured or underinsured clients, to the May reading. Members of the community are encouraged to attend Poetry Night to share or listen to the work of others.
“We have so many talented writers and artists across all mediums here,” Bowman said. “I’m not surprised to see the growth of DCPS, but sometimes I have to pinch myself because of how quickly it’s happened. It’s incredible.”