Charis and Cliterati pair up to present an inviting and fierce open mic & reading series that celebrates new voices and seasoned veterans alike. Co-hosted by Karen G. and Theresa Davis, all are welcome to come and share their work. If you would like to participate as a reader or performer, all you need to do is arrive by 7:15 pm ET to sign up on the list. If you are a non-acoustic musician and would like to plug your instrument into our sound system, please contact info@chariscircle.org ahead of time to let us know so we can have the right setup for you! There are no genre, style, or form requirements, but please keep your set to under five minutes to allow everyone to have a turn!

This month's featured poet is Elizabeth Michaud in celebration of The Bones in the Garden (and other things found there). In The Bones in the Garden (and other things found there), Elizabeth Michaud acts as our collective story keeper. She guides us through the scars left by American slavery, the caves and crevices of fantastical creatures, and the simple rooms where love can liberate us. This is a varied offering interweaving passion, pain, and folklore, like cream dissolving into coffee.

In this second collection of poetry, Michaud continues her narrative journey in verse. She grounds her work in truth and verve, drawing upon the hard facts of world history and the tender details of her own archive. When Michaud writes, “Tell no one of the bones / buried deep within the garden,” it is because she will be the one to tell. Watch her lay bare the horrific yet beautiful bones of her ancestors, of our world, of us all.

Elizabeth Michaud is an award-winning poet living in GA. Her first book, Five Dreams, has received accolades from The BookFest Awards, Literary Global, the American Best Book Awards, and Regal Summit.  Her second book of poetry, The Bones in the Garden (and other things found there) was just released in September 2024 to strong reviews and has aleady won recognitions from both The BookFest Awards and the American Best Book Awards.

Each collection of poetry is a study of storytelling using different forms of verse, from more traditional rhyming to free verse.  No matter the style, her themes are many and varied, from love and longing, to loss and heartache, to the mysterious depths of horror to narratives grounded in black history. Her poetry offers something for everyone, and readers will not be disappointed.

This is a Charis Circle From Margin to Center Literary Event. The suggested donation is $5, but no one will be turned away for lack of funds.

Please enter an amount between 0 and $500 to reserve your virtual seat.

Cliterati Open Mic Featuring: Elizabeth Michaud in celebration of The Bones in the Garden (and other things found there)