{"id":202424,"date":"2026-03-23T13:46:09","date_gmt":"2026-03-23T13:46:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/202424\/"},"modified":"2026-03-23T13:46:09","modified_gmt":"2026-03-23T13:46:09","slug":"st-petes-poet-laureate-denzel-johnson-green-brings-poetry-to-the-people","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/202424\/","title":{"rendered":"St. Pete’s Poet Laureate Denzel Johnson-Green brings poetry to the people"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Since being named St. Petersburg\u2019s Poet Laureate, Denzel Johnson-Green hasn\u2019t 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.<\/p>\n

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 \u201cnormal operating mode\u201d and into what he describes as a more sensory, almost surreal experience of poetry.<\/p>\n

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<\/a> for the newest event updates.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s mostly stuff to get us out of our normal operating mode,\u201d he said. \u201cTo see the world through kaleidoscope eyes\u2026 and allow the poetry to hit us like a snowball.\u201d<\/p>\n

He\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n

\"a\"aDenzel Johnson Green posted a \u201cHealing Through Words\u201d workshop at the St. Pete Youth Farm in May 2024<\/p>\n

A grassroots poetry community<\/p>\n

Johnson-Green also reflected on the evolution of Neptune St. Pete\u2019s grassroots poetry community over the past year. According to him, the scene has grown not just in size, but in depth.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m seeing poets remember how to see the good in life, in the mundane and beautiful,\u201d he said, pointing to the quiet profundity found in everyday moments. At the same time, there\u2019s been a noticeable shift toward more politically engaged work.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a productive anger,\u201d he explained. \u201cLocal creatives are frustrated\u2026 but they have things to say about how things are changing.\u201d<\/p>\n

That balance between introspection and outward awareness is something he hopes continues to define Neptune\u2019s growth. He encourages poets to look beyond themselves, writing about neighbors, global communities, and even \u201cvoices for the voiceless animals.\u201d<\/p>\n

Embracing the role of Poet Laureate<\/p>\n

Despite the title, Johnson-Green approaches his role with humility and a bit of humor.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt feels absurd and gilded in ordinary grandeur,\u201d he said. \u201cBut I\u2019m mostly invisible, which is preferable.\u201d<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

\u201cI feel small in the best of ways, like a flower in your hand,\u201d he said. \u201cI know I can help brighten someone\u2019s day with poetry events and reading opportunities.\u201d<\/p>\n

His mission is to make poetry accessible, visible, and welcoming even to those who might not think it\u2019s for them.<\/p>\n

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Finding home through poetry<\/p>\n

Johnson-Green\u2019s connection to St. Pete runs deeper than his current title. A self-described \u201cex-emo kid\u201d who grew up in a military family, he spent much of his early life without a permanent sense of home.<\/p>\n

That changed when he arrived in St. Petersburg and attended Gibbs High School.<\/p>\n

\u201cSt. Pete\u2026 has been my home,\u201d he said. \u201cI\u2019m grateful for the community here, for the poet friends that make it all worthwhile.\u201d<\/p>\n

It\u2019s that sense of belonging that now fuels his work creating spaces where others can feel seen. As he puts it: \u201cPoetry is always there for us.\u201d<\/p>\n

And in St. Pete this April, thanks to Johnson-Green and a growing network of creatives, it\u2019ll be easier than ever to find.<\/p>\n

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