12 Oct Plenty of Poetry in Motion at Antioch’s Lynn House Gallery

People enjoy one of the regular poetry open mic nights held the last Friday of every month at Lynn House Gallery in Antioch. (Photo by Amit Gill)

Commentary, Arionna White

Talent has been on full display the last Friday of every month at Lynn House Gallery in Antioch for over a year. Poets come to showcase their abilities to create and move an audience. Everyone is welcome to come and listen, take in the view, and open their ears at this poets’ venue.

Antioch resident and honorary poet laureate Jose Cordon created the open mic event which has been picking up speed. Talented poets are coming from all around the Bay Area to Lynn House Gallery, which is giving a stage to local hidden talents. This open mic has been flourishing in Antioch and has also expanded to hikes, poetry brunches and opportunities to put funding back into local art and artists.

“We’re building a thriving community of poets,” Cordon said. “From poetry open mics, to hikes, brunches, poetry scholarships and more, we are fully dedicated to nourishing, connecting, and uplifting poetry, poets, and poetry in our community.”

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For more than a year, poets have been pouring out their hearts, souls and words in front of the most active audiences I have ever seen. I have been attending and performing at this event, where the family atmosphere is phenomenal even when there are new faces in the crowd. I have learned that as we keep some of the hardest battles to ourselves, poetry is an outlet for many. It provides a safe place to be vulnerable and a source of healing needed in the community. People from different walks of life have come to this open mic because of the love and safety that is felt when you walk through the door. The family ambiance has given confidence to poets, helping them create new works and expand to perform in other locations and show others their hidden talent.  

One phenomenal local creator, Jayde, also known on Instagram as griselda_choco, has been moving the crowd with her smooth deliveries mixed with acute wording with her poetry.  

“The container Jose created with the open mic feels like the safest place outside of my diary to share or express my thoughts,” she said one Friday. 

Delfa Bell, also known as DDG “Delfa the Goddess,” has been performing at the open mic for almost a year and giving us peeks into some intense emotions. 

“Poetry Open Mic has provided a safe place for me to share my writing. I feel like I heal a little more each time I go up and share my poetry, like I’m not keeping any secrets anymore and now I have a voice,” Bell said. “I also get to hear others share vulnerable writing also. I feel like we are all connected on a deeper level because of the vulnerability we all express with each other.”

Yazmyn Rahimi, has been at the open mic since the doors opened, giving us sultry love poems. 

“The last Friday of the month is always what I look forward to because I know I am going to see people I’ve come to love through this,” she said. “Whether you’re wanting to see some great local talent, just starting off with your poetry, or you’ve been doing it for a while, the poetry community that’s been created and nourished here in Antioch is one that is extremely special, loving, welcoming, and accepting to all.”

This open mic has been growing, with new themes introduced as different poets have gotten the chance to host. The poets include Mo Ministries and Juni Speaks, who have been performing around the Bay Area. Some of their themes have been love, God, war, hate, betrayal, sexuality and others — like the holidays.  

Everyone is welcome to come and check out the poet community of Antioch at the next open mic night on Oct. 27, beginning at 8 p.m. at Lynn House Gallery, 809 W. 1st St. Dressing up is highly encouraged for the Halloween theme.