Dear Friends of Poetry,
Our August 21, Poetry Night will feature poets and authors Rhony Bhopla and Mariam Ahmed. We meet at 7 PM inside the mostly air-conditioned John Natsoulas Gallery, and we hope you can join us!
Our first reader of the evening will be Mariam Ahmed.
California poet Mariam Ahmed grew up in the Bay Area and Folsom. Ahmed has an MFA in Poetry from San Diego State University and a BA in English Literature with a minor in Sociology from the University of California, Davis, where she was a student of Dr. Andy. Her work has appeared in Poetry International, The Los Angeles Review, Panorama: The Journal of Travel, Place & Nature, and many other literary journals. Her debut full-length collection, Hidden Parts, was published in January 2025.
A certified Poet-Teacher with California Poets in the Schools, Ahmed spends her days guiding young writers in the classroom. She also mentors youth through local nonprofits and teaches English to newly arrived Afghan women and children. Ahmed lives in San Diego, where she enjoys teaching yoga and finding inspiration by the ocean.
Our second reader on August 21 will be Rhony Bhopla.
Rhony Bhopla is a science educator, poet, book critic, and visual artist. Her poems have appeared in Southern Humanities Review, PRISM International, The Hopper, Notre Dame Review, Cherry Moon: Emerging Voices from the Asian Diaspora, The Ekphrastic Review, and The Good Life Review, among other literary journals. Her book reviews can be read in Northwest Review and Harvard Review. Her artworks are a regular feature of the Big Names Small Art (BNSA) auction with the Crocker Art Museum.
Rhony Bhopla serves as the President of the Alumni Association Board of Representatives at Pacific University. Her honors include the Kwame Dawes Mapmakers Scholarship and the Pacific University Alumni Association's Emerging Leader Award. She volunteers for the Medical Reserve Corps and works as a science educator with Sierra Nevada Journeys. Bhopla earned a Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences and a minor in Comparative Literature from the University of California, Davis and holds a Master of Fine Arts in Writing from Pacific University. When she is not writing or painting, Rhony enjoys spending time with loved ones, hiking, cooking, and creating watercolor nature journals for her friends.
The open mic starts at 8. Performers will be asked to limit their sharings to two items or four minutes whichever is shorter. The open mic list is typically full by 6:45. People who show up early to help set up chairs will always earn a spot on the open mic list.
Find out more about the Poetry Night Reading Series in Davis, California by visiting
http://www.poetryindavis.com. Encourage your friends to sign up for the mailing list. To learn more about Dr. Andy’s tiny media fiefdom, check out his weekly podcast at
https://poetrytechnology.buzzsprout.com/. Also, see some of his recent essays on Substack:
https://andyjones.substack.com/. One recent post lists the almost 400 poets who have ever featured at the Poetry Night Reading Series.
Later in 2025, we will feature the poets Chris Erickson, Greg Miller, Diane Frank, Brad Buchanan, Julia Levine, and more.
Please plan to join us on every first and third Thursday of the month at 7 PM at the John Natsoulas Gallery for the Poetry Night Reading Series.
Also check out other Arts events in Davis, Literary Art events in Davis, Fine Arts events in Davis.
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