Featuring performances from 200+ poets, along with film and live music, the Poetry Marathon is a celebration of creativity and community.

Woodland Pattern’s Marathon is a life-affirming celebration of voices from every corner of our community. As the baton passes from poet to poet, hour after hour, you will hear from children and seniors and people of every age group in between; from writers of varied heritages, backgrounds, and experiences; from Milwaukeeans, Wisconsinites, and from people across the country and globe; from poets writing in diverse languages (including invented ones); and from poets at every stage of their practice—from those sharing their work for the first time and from those who have spent a lifetime doing so. More than any singular performance, it is this range of voices and the equal attention each one receives that most deeply inspires us, year after year.

In addition to poetry addressing every subject imaginable, be prepared to also enjoy live music, screenings of moving-image works, and some special surprises.

In addition to being an extraordinary event and beloved tradition, the Poetry Marathon serves as a community-driven fundraiser. Participating poets attempt to raise $50. Those contributions are then matched by a sponsor for the hour and supplemented by major sponsorships. All funds raised are then reinvested right back into our community through hundreds of free programs that support creativity at every stage of human life.

We hope you will join us for Woodland Pattern’s biggest event of the year and for what promises to be an electrifying weekend of live poetry and performance!

Visit our website to learn more and to donate: https://woodlandpattern.org/poetry-marathon

A weapon first verse

From 32nd Annual Poetry Marathon by Woodland Pattern - clip by Lazarus Halliwell