A meeting place for Yakima regional writers
Opinions and viewpoints expressed or implied in all poetry on this website are those of the poets and not necessarily those of Yakima Coffeehouse Poets.
Next Open Mic Night
Wednesday, December 8, 2021
7 pm
Host poet – Xavier Cavazos
The Yakima Coffeehouse Poets presents Open Mic Night on the second Wednesday of each month, September through May.
There is a hitch in our plan for a public meeting this season, however. We are continuing to present via ZOOM™, at least for a bit.
Read more…
CALL TO POETS…
2022 YAKIMA COFFEEHOUSE POETRY CONTEST
Submission Guidelines: One Submission includes 3-5 poems. There is a $10 entry fee ($5 for students) per submission.
Entry Deadline: Monday, February 1, 2022
a new online publishing opportunity
Continuing throughout 2021, Poets’ Brew is a community online web page for poetry by Central and Eastern Washington poets. We invite all to submit poems to Poets’ Brew! Any questions about Poets’ Brew or Open Mic Night can be emailed to:
2021-2023 Washington State Poet Laureate
Read more about this year’s Washington State Poet Laureate.
Local Poet Publications
At Yakima Coffeehouse Poets, we always encourage individual enterprise when it comes to the creative arts. We encourage our friends in the poetry community to check out Leon, Mike and Dotty’s contribution to the local poetry scene!
Cost is a $10 donation to the Yakima Coffeehouse Poets. Please include extra for postage.
HELLO POETS AND POETRY LOVERS!
The Yakima Coffeehouse Poets board of directors is delighted to announce the release of the 7th edition of the Labyrinth Poetry Series, “Scribble Dog,” by Leon Petty.
Leon is a returning Selah native. He and his wife, Eugenia, currently reside in Yakima. The YCP Labyrinth Poetry Series is designed for local poets who have never published a chapbook.
To hear more of Leon and his work from “Scribble Dog,” Link here to his YouTube video…
LOCAL POET HAS A NEW BOOK !
Naches poet Dotty Armstrong has released her new poetry chapbook “The Book of Common Poems”! The chapbook is currently available at Inklings Bookshop in Yakima for a $10 donation to the Yakima Coffeehouse Poets. YCP has published the chapbook as part of its Labyrinth series featuring the work of local poets who have never
published a chapbook.
Link below to a (YouTube™ ) video presentation of Dotty’s favorites…
Living with Vera: Yakima, Cracking Walnuts and Christmas Morning
The Local Scene: Living on U.S. Hwy 12,
Me and Van Gogh in Yakima,
Sarahs Salon in the Sticks
LOCAL ARTIST & POET BLOG !
“I’m trying out a blog as an alternative way to publish a poetry book. I will serialize poems, starting January 1 and add a new poem every few days through the end, probably around July 1? Unlike Facebook you won’t get notices or cookies or bread crumbs or such, just blog postings as they happen and you can comment if you wish on the blog without all the Facebook views, friends, tags and such— nutten’ but poetry AND a few photos I want to share, plus many by Kristin Hiler and Jo N. Miles.”
Mike is also interested in hosting a workshop at Larson Gallery in Yakima once the pandemic allows things to open up.
JOANNA THOMAS
Soon-to-be-released, quirky chapbook of dictionary poems.
Joanna Thomas reads the title poem from her chapbook “blue•bird (bloo-bird)” featuring 22 poems and published by Milk & Cake Press.
Link Here for her book trailer…
Find out more information about Joanna…
Yakima Coffeehouse Poets – About us
Poets and poetry lovers who live in Central Washington State will find these pages informative.
The Yakima Coffeehouse Poets is a registered Washington State non-profit corporation formed in 2014 to represent the interests of poets and poetry lovers of Central Washington.
Central Washington, roughly speaking, is bound by the Columbia River to the east and south, the Cascades Crest on the west, and the Wenatchee River on the north.
Cover Art – “Quilt” by Lynn Stover
If you live or work in this area, or have roots here, you are eligible to participate in our annual poetry contest and to read at our regular Open Mic Night events. Original poetry only, please!
If you live outside Central Washington, we invite you to enjoy the poetry published on our website. If you are visiting Yakima, our home base, you are welcome to attend and read at our Open Mic Nights which are held at 7 p.m., the second Wednesday of the month September through May.
Yakima Coffeehouse Poets – Update
These are unusual times, and certainly worthy of writing about. With that in mind, we would like to thank Elaine Smith, Kathleen Smith (no relation), and Terry Martin for providing the following online resources which all poets and poetry lovers out there in Coffeehouse Poets Land will find interesting:
Poetry Un-Bound
New York Times – National Poetry Month
Poetry Foundation
Yakima Coffeehouse Poets – chapbook Publications
Twentieth: Selected Coffeehouse Poems
Our goal with the poems in the anthology, Twentieth, is to draw out more Central Washington poets and give courage to those who have more poems to offer for the future.
These poems represent the best of the past 19 years and include all the poets whose permission could be gained. You’ll notice that some poets have several poems because they won our annual contest several times.
Visit our Publications page to see examples of our local talent. You can also Contact Us to order your own copy of available chapbooks.
Poetry Contest & chapbook
Our 2019 Poetry Contest reading event was held October 22, 2019, at the Larson Gallery, Nob Hill & 16th Ave, Yakima. Visit and enjoy samples and information about this year’s successful event! More info…
Past chapbooks
Our most Meetings and Contest Readings are held in the Larson Gallery on YVC’s campus, Nob Hill Blvd & 16th, Yakima. Current chapbooks (and some past chapbooks) are available at all meetings.
A gracious Thank-you for all that contributed to this wonderful publication and event.
You can read samples of the Twenty-second, through Twenty-fifth poems from their respective Publications page.
Yakima Coffeehouse poets is not responsible for the content or availability of linked sites outside of yakimacoffeehousepoets.com.