Photo by Kerri Phox/The Atlanta Voice
Miyana Sarver always knew Poetry on Peter (POP) would be special. However, the poet and driving force behind POP didn’t predict it would blossom into the community it has become today.
Red and blue lights blend into a purple hue, illuminating a picturesque stage reminiscent of an intimate jazz club or a scene plucked out of the pages of one of the many books adorning the stage of Peters Street Station’s Poetry on Peter. The lone mic at center stage is always warm, either by the hands of a lively host or one of the poets who scrounge up the courage to share their words at the free weekly event that has become a safe space for Atlanta’s Black creatives.
“At first, I didn’t even realize what was happening,” Sarver said. “It makes me feel blessed. And it also makes me feel like, ‘huh, I wonder what God saw in me to be given such a task.’”
Originally from Louisville, Kentucky, Sarver got acclimated with Atlanta’s arts scene by performing at poetry events around the city. In 2020, she made a pivotal decision to leave the music industry after the realization that it wasn’t serving her and that her true passion lay in poetry and event curating rather than songwriting.
After Sarver came across a post on the Peters Street Station Instagram in June 2021 asking for new curated events, she knew it was a sign. A month later, POP was born. Almost three years later, the weekly Monday event hosts a vibrant atmosphere that has garnered a loyal crowd of Black musicians, small-business owners, and, most notably, poets.
“It’s turned from a passion to a duty. At first, it was just a place to save myself, but once I got myself on good ground, it became my duty to do what I did for myself to do for others.”
Guests swayed to the live music by the talented in-house band Vibe Ktrl. Bartenders sling drinks as guests crowd the bar to grab a cocktail or write their name down on the 14-slot list for the chance to perform on stage. The couches, tables, and chairs that litter the intimate room are never empty or without conversation. Guests can often be found exploring the backroom art gallery plastered with Black art — that’s the ambiance that POP invokes every Monday.
We are Family
There are three rules formulated by Sarver when first-time guests or regulars settle in their seats and gather around the stage as showtime starts: give poets good energy, talk to each other, and have a good time.
POP is adamant about creating an inclusive and safe space that serves as an outlet for Black creatives. Whether it’s a poetic piece that draws from elements of spoken word or lends itself more to the cadence of rap, the crowd responds through bobbed heads, shouts of praise or affirmation, and that scrunch of the face that signals that the words have hit home for its audience.
“The crowd is so receptive,” said Demauge Williams, a poet who has been performing at POP since its inception. “I really think that if you have a piece that connects and really hits home for us, we will champion you.”
Championing each other and showing support is the theme of Monday nights at POP. Different Black businesses are showcased every week, from product owners to those who own food businesses, emphasizing the community that Sarver and her team have built.
“’I’m very grateful and honored to work with other Black creatives and support each other in that way. It feels freeing. It feels empowering,” said JAHnye Ashanti, a licensed esthetician and owner of Ashanti Skin, a wellness and beauty business that offered massages while poets performed.
From start to finish, the show seamlessly brings people together in a cocoon of live music, poetry, food, drinks, and good vibes, but a lot goes into crafting the event behind the scenes. Sarver revealed that Monday’s show is just 10 percent of the work they do, and after just a day’s rest, her team of 10 people are back to work. It’s a fully operating business and engine that works together through social media, networking, grant applications, and attending other art events while also tending to their own creative crafts.
And Sarver said it wouldn’t work so seamlessly if the team behind the event hadn’t become family. Many of the key players of POP are long-time friends or family of Sarver, and you can clearly see the teamwork in the hours before the show starts. Before doors open at 8:30 p.m., you can likely catch Vibe Ktrl serenading the room with an impromptu jam session that speaks to their synergy. Where one goes, the other soon follows, creating an atmosphere that carries the team as they work diligently to organize what guests see every Monday.
Cultural Renaissance on Peters Street
The Mondays at Peters Street Station have become an important part of the art renaissance in the Castleberry Hill neighborhood. Peters Street has transformed into a hub of creative expression. Once a red-light district, the street now boasts art galleries, restaurants and bars that have revitalized the neighborhood’s nightlife. Peters Street Station is the heart of this cultural renaissance, a culture house and event space founded by Miya Bailey. It serves as a safe space for creative incubation in the local art community, with Poetry on Peter leading the charge as it creates a reputation for itself within the local community.
“I think that we pour a lot of our heart and spirit into it. They just called us and asked us if Poetry on Peter could be a part of the Atlanta marketing run for labels: if you come to Atlanta, you have to step on that stage. Almost like an Apollo,” Sarver said.
“Poetry on Peter is the heartbeat of Peter Street for sure. I don’t think anybody in that building would say otherwise. I think we have a hard engine in this cultural renaissance happening in Atlanta, especially with Peter Street.”
In February, POP held one of its biggest events yet featuring Foggieraw, a Maryland-based rapper from Ghana. As POP’s three-year anniversary in July draws near and Sarver reflects on the continued success of the event, which has been an integral part of keeping Atlanta’s poetry scene alive, Sarver is proud of what the event has become to its neighborhoods and the community.
“It’s bigger than us…. It feels good. It makes me feel proud. So often, I’ll drop a tear about it.”