Late Night Pomes started out as a weekly poetry night that was held every Sunday in Portland, Oregon in a bar with public readings immediately following to no particular audience except passersby. There wasn’t any time for editing or second thoughts.
It is now a podcast brought to you by Deep Overstock.
In every episode there are new poetry games for the hosts and guests (and listeners) to challenge each other with, try out new forms of writing, and to drink of course!
The prompts are created to push writers outside their comfort zone while in a nonjudgmental environment. It is an inclusive workshop that destroys the line between outsiders and insiders in the writing community. Everyone is welcome to write or drink along.
So what the heck’s a “pome”?!
They’re called pomes, not poems, to take the pressure off of having to write “poems.” Pomes aren’t supposed to be works of art; they’re a way to experiment with new ideas and to take risks.
Or maybe it’s a portmanteau of poem and game.
Or maybe it’s trying to spell poem when you’re drunk.
Whatever pomes are, they’re supposed to be fun.
How do you play?
Traditionally the poets (or “pomists,” if you will) sat around a table late at night at a bar after work. Currently they’re social distancing at their computers. (But don’t forget pens and paper!) Each night centers around a chosen theme, split into three rounds with their own writing prompt. Each prompt builds on the theme in a different way.
Once a round has finished, pomists read their pomes out loud. After the readings each pomist awards points to another pomist. At the end of the night, the winner is awarded a “prize.”
Listeners of Late Night Pomes Radio can play along at home and submit their pomes to the show either by email (pomes [at] deepoverstock.com), to Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, or as a voice message on anchor.fm to be read on-air on a future episode. You may even win some goodies!