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ART OF WORDS Poets' Open Mic In-Person
TO REGISTER, scroll down the page and click "BEGIN REGISTRATION"
April Theme: Collected
Featured: Poetry by John Jakob (in memoriam)
Open Mic Signup begins at 5:30pm. Feature act begins at 6:00pm
This popular monthly event, co-hosted by Tamell "Big" Bailey and CathyB, is a great opportunity for adults and young adults to practice performance skills in front of a small audience, receive feedback, and get inspiration for creating new works. Except for the featured artist, individual performances are limited to 3 minutes and may be on any “radio friendly” topic. If time allows, additional performances may be invited.
For an AOW Poster to share:
1.Scroll below the photo of this month's Featured Performer
2. Download the FILE ATTACHMENT
FEATURED PERFORMER
John Jakob, a resident of Aiken, South Carolina for the last three years of his life, was co-leader (with Grace Przywara) of the Aiken Poets (which currently meets once a month on Saturday morning at the Aiken County Public Library). John was a successful businessman for many years. He "closed shop," retired, and moved to Aiken when his wife was diagnosed with Alzheimers. Though himself wheelchair-bound, John cared for his wife with the help of his son James.
John was a prolific writer in his final years. Sadly, shortly before he was scheduled for a visit with other poets at his Agape Hospice bedside, on the morning of February 28, 2026 he succumbed to esophageal cancer. During visits at his bedside the previous week, he expressed love for his wife (now in a memory care center in Atlanta), his daughters, grandchildren, and concerns for James, suddenly alone in Aiken.
While exchanging his original poems with CathyB's original songs, the poet said he "would LOVE it" if he could be featured at ART OF WORDS -- even if it meant other poets would be the ones to read his poems. John expressed a desire to find a professional editor to publish his poetry. Cathy promised to make sure that will happen -- so, published poets, please send her any recommendations you have!
- Date:
- Thursday, April 16, 2026 Show more dates
- Time:
- 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM
- Time Zone:
- Eastern Time - US & Canada (change)
- Location:
- Aiken - Meeting / Bank of America Room
- Branch:
- Aiken County Public Library
- Audience:
- Adults Ages 13-18
- Categories:
- Adults Teens
- Attachments:
