Since being named St. Petersburg’s Poet Laureate, Denzel Johnson-Green hasn’t slowed down. In a follow-up to his earlier conversation with I Love the Burg, the poet is leaning further into community-driven creativity, planning a series of immersive events that invite locals to experience poetry in unexpected ways.
For National Poetry Month this April, Johnson-Green is curating a lineup of open mics and experimental workshops designed to break routine and spark new perspectives. The goal is to push participants out of their “normal operating mode” and into what he describes as a more sensory, almost surreal experience of poetry.
Events are set to take place across a range of familiar St. Pete spaces, including the Museum of Fine Arts St. Petersburg and the President Barack Obama Main Library, as well as more intimate community spots like Book + Bottle and even local parks. You can follow Johnson-Green on Instagram for the newest event updates.
“It’s mostly stuff to get us out of our normal operating mode,” he said. “To see the world through kaleidoscope eyes… and allow the poetry to hit us like a snowball.”
He’s not the only one activating the scene this month. Organizations like GrowHouse Tampa, The Studio@620, and Youth Farm are also contributing to a packed calendar of poetry programming throughout the Tampa Bay area.
Denzel Johnson Green posted a “Healing Through Words” workshop at the St. Pete Youth Farm in May 2024
A grassroots poetry community
Johnson-Green also reflected on the evolution of Neptune St. Pete’s grassroots poetry community over the past year. According to him, the scene has grown not just in size, but in depth.
“I’m seeing poets remember how to see the good in life, in the mundane and beautiful,” he said, pointing to the quiet profundity found in everyday moments. At the same time, there’s been a noticeable shift toward more politically engaged work.
“It’s a productive anger,” he explained. “Local creatives are frustrated… but they have things to say about how things are changing.”
That balance between introspection and outward awareness is something he hopes continues to define Neptune’s growth. He encourages poets to look beyond themselves, writing about neighbors, global communities, and even “voices for the voiceless animals.”
Embracing the role of Poet Laureate
Despite the title, Johnson-Green approaches his role with humility and a bit of humor.
“It feels absurd and gilded in ordinary grandeur,” he said. “But I’m mostly invisible, which is preferable.”
Still, he recognizes the opportunity that comes with the position. Rather than viewing it as a spotlight, he sees it as a chance to serve.
“I feel small in the best of ways, like a flower in your hand,” he said. “I know I can help brighten someone’s day with poetry events and reading opportunities.”
His mission is to make poetry accessible, visible, and welcoming even to those who might not think it’s for them.
Finding home through poetry
Johnson-Green’s connection to St. Pete runs deeper than his current title. A self-described “ex-emo kid” who grew up in a military family, he spent much of his early life without a permanent sense of home.
That changed when he arrived in St. Petersburg and attended Gibbs High School.
“St. Pete… has been my home,” he said. “I’m grateful for the community here, for the poet friends that make it all worthwhile.”
It’s that sense of belonging that now fuels his work creating spaces where others can feel seen. As he puts it: “Poetry is always there for us.”
And in St. Pete this April, thanks to Johnson-Green and a growing network of creatives, it’ll be easier than ever to find.
