Other People’s Poems is a monthly poetry open mic and reading series celebrating readers and lovers of poetry. Hosted by Ally Ang and Cody Stetzel at Open Books: A Poem Emporium, each reading consists of an open mic, in which anyone can read up to five minutes of poetry written by someone else, followed by three featured readers who will read poems by their literary influences and community.

Masks required.

June’s featured readers are Sullivan Forderhase, Shelby Handler, and Dujie Tahat.

raised in tennessee but rooted in seattle, sullivan forderhase works in the spine of poetry through word and movement. they are interested in desire, shame, dream spaces, the knife of grief, and the resistance of joy. they choose the question over the answer every time, allowing curiosity and tenderness to move them. you can connect with them on social media via @softservesully

Shelby Handler is a writer, translator, and organizer with Jewish Voice for Peace.

Dujie Tahat is the fifth Seattle Civic poet and author of three poetry chapbooks: Here I Am O My God, selected for a Poetry Society of America Chapbook Fellowship; Salat, winner of the Tupelo Press Sunken Garden Chapbook Award and longlisted for the 2020 PEN/Voelcker Award for Poetry Collection; and Balikbayan, finalist for The New Michigan Press / DIAGRAM chapbook contest and the Center for Book Arts honoree. Along with Luther Hughes and Gabrielle Bates, they cohost The Poet Salon podcast.