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RED HERRING

Poets Creating Conversation

Sunday, October 5 @4P

The Mount / Edith Wharton's Home
2 Plunkett St, Lenox, MA
Free

The theme is RED HERRING. WordXWord’s Poets Creating Conversation throws out a word or phrase and asks poets to respond.

We long ago learned that there is no predicting how the outside world and/or which life experiences and challenges will insert themselves into the conversation. That’s the magic sauce that makes PCC work.

This event will be presented outdoors at the “cafe” behind the STABLE building, rain or shine. In the case of inclement weather we will move indoors.

Poet (or soon to be poet) interested in taking the challenge? Register online to grab a spot.


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Previous Events -


Previous years: 2017 Schedule 2018 Schedule 2019 Schedule 2020 Schedule 2021 Schedule 2022 Schedule 2023 Schedule

DREAM

poets creating conversation

January 14, 2025

Unitarian Universalist Church, 175 Wendell Ave, Pittsfield, MA
Free

The prompt is DREAM.

Not for the faint of heart, Poets Creating Conversation throws out a single word/idea and asks poets to circle around. The results defy expectations!

Equal parts art and community, WordXWord is where words go to be heard. Poets Creating Conversation is an ongoing series of events that challenges poets (and soon-to-be-poets!) to circle loosely around a theme or issue in the current social discourse to create a broad, multi-dimensional “conversation” between poems, poets, and audience.

WordXWord events are FREE and open to all, however, some poems may contain content or language best suited for teens and adults.


WINDOWS & DOORS / stories

February 7, 2025

Dottie's Coffee Lounge, 444 North Street, Pittsfield
Free

The theme is Windows & Doors. The stories are yours. Admission is free. Stories start at 7P.

Similar to a story slam in spirit, WordXWord's Stories is a spirited sharing of true, first person stories told, not read, circling loosely around a theme. February’s theme is Windows & Doors. You'll have to be there to know where the stories take us.


HOME

poets creating conversation

February 11, 2025

Unitarian Universalist Church, 175 Wendell Ave, Pittsfield, MA
Free

The prompt is HOME.

Not for the faint of heart, Poets Creating Conversation throws out a single word/idea and asks poets to circle around. The results defy expectations!

Equal parts art and community, WordXWord is where words go to be heard. Poets Creating Conversation is an ongoing series of events that challenges poets (and soon-to-be-poets!) to circle loosely around a theme or issue in the current social discourse to create a broad, multi-dimensional “conversation” between poems, poets, and audience.

WordXWord events are FREE and open to all, however, some poems may contain content or language best suited for teens and adults.


EDUCATION

poets creating conversation

March 11, 2025

Unitarian Universalist Church, 175 Wendell Ave, Pittsfield, MA
Free

WordXWord is inviting poets of any ilk to apply their creative energy to slicing and dicing Education in America. From inside institutions, or from outside in the “real” world, we’re looking to get an ear full. Everything is fair game - public education, home school, K-12, college, or the lessons that life drops on us.

Education in America was our very first Poets Creating Conversation event held on February 26, 2018 - twelve days after the Parkland school shooting. You can imagine how that event shaped our event. We quickly learned that there is no predicting how the outside world and/or which life experiences and challenges will insert themselves into the conversation. That’s the magic sauce that makes PCC work. We look to create a cauldron and invite you to jump in.

Equal parts art and community, WordXWord is where words go to be heard. Poets Creating Conversation is an ongoing series of events that challenges poets (and soon-to-be-poets!) to circle loosely around a theme or issue in the current social discourse to create a broad, multi-dimensional “conversation” between poems, poets, and audience.

WordXWord events are FREE and open to all, however, some poems may contain content or language best suited for teens and adults.


DIVERSITY

poets creating conversation

April 8, 2025

Unitarian Universalist Church, 175 Wendell Ave, Pittsfield, MA
Free

In a series of events over the course of 3 months, WordXWord is asking poets of any ilk to apply their creative energy to three fraught words - diversity, equity, and inclusion. Obviously these words have a wide range of applications other than the uses currently under pressure. First up, is DIVERSITY.

diversity (noun)
di·​ver·​si·​ty

1. the condition of having or being composed of differing elements : variety
2. an instance of being composed of differing elements or qualities : an instance of being diverse

Equal parts art and community, WordXWord is where words go to be heard. Poets Creating Conversation is an ongoing series of events that challenges poets (and soon-to-be-poets!) to circle loosely around a theme or issue in the current social discourse to create a broad, multi-dimensional “conversation” between poems, poets, and audience.

WordXWord events are FREE and open to all, however, some poems may contain content or language best suited for teens and adults.


EQUITY

poets creating conversation

May 13, 2025

Unitarian Universalist Church, 175 Wendell Ave, Pittsfield, MA
Free

In a series of events over the course of 3 months, WordXWord is asking poets of any age, style, or experience to apply their creative energy to three fraught words - diversity, equity, and inclusion. Obviously these words have a wide range of applications other than the uses currently under pressure. Second up, is EQUITY. It’s your call how you dance around it.

equity (noun)
eq·​ui·​ty

1. the quality of being fair and impartial
2. the value of the shares issued by a company
3. the value of a mortgaged property after deduction of charges against it


INCLUSION

poets creating conversation

June 10, 2025

Unitarian Universalist Church, 175 Wendell Ave, Pittsfield, MA
Free

Over the course of 3 months, WordXWord has asked poets of any ilk to apply their creative energy to three fraught words - diversity, equity, and (now) inclusion.

As we wrap up this series with INCLUSION, we recognize that it is difficult to pull these 3 words completely apart as they lean on each other for support. In addition, it seems unnecessary/counter productive to put a wall around inclusion. For this final event in the series anything even tangentially related to any or all things DEI is welcome. This is as close to an open mic as you’re likely to see from us.


Wonder/Wander

poets creating conversation

July 8, 2025

Unitarian Universalist Church, 175 Wendell Ave, Pittsfield, MA
Free

Wonder. Wander. Question or answer, or the space in between? It’s your call.


Walking with WXW #1

aka Sculpture Walk

July 13, 2025

The Mount / Edith Wharton's Home
2 Plunkett St, Lenox, MA
Free

Follow along as poets offer an exploration of The Mount’s grounds and selected works in the Sculpture At The Mount exhibition. Each of the three dates will offer a unique combination of poets and poems. Free. Walking shoes are advised. Rain or shine. In the case of rain, Walkin' with WordXWord will take place in the large event tent on the grounds of The Mount.


Walking with WXW #2

aka Sculpture Walk

July 20, 2025

The Mount / Edith Wharton's Home
2 Plunkett St, Lenox, MA
Free

Follow along as poets offer an exploration of The Mount’s grounds and selected works in the Sculpture At The Mount exhibition. Each of the three dates will offer a unique combination of poets and poems. Free. Walking shoes are advised. Rain or shine. In the case of rain, Walkin' with WordXWord will take place in the large event tent on the grounds of The Mount.


Another Very Large Poem

July 27, 2025

The Mount / Edith Wharton's Home
2 Plunkett St, Lenox, MA
Free

Dozens of poets collaborate to perform Another Very Large Poem. Created by stitching together dozens of short poems by poets ranging in age and style. This event will take place in The Mount’s Event Tent, rain or shine.


ROOTS

Poets Creating Conversation

August 10, 2025

The Mount / Edith Wharton's Home
2 Plunkett St, Lenox, MA
Free

The theme is ROOTS. Flora or fauna, we’ve all got them.

As part of The Mount's Community Day, this event will be presented outdoors at a location TBD. Bring your own chair or blanket.

Not for the faint of heart, WordXWord’s Poets Creating Conversation throws out a single word/idea and asks poets to circle around.


Walking with WXW #3

aka Sculpture Walk

Sunday, August 24 @5P

The Mount / Edith Wharton's Home
2 Plunkett St, Lenox, MA
Free

Follow along as poets offer an exploration of The Mount’s grounds and selected works in the Sculpture At The Mount exhibition. Each of the three dates will offer a unique combination of poets and poems. Free. Walking shoes are advised. Rain or shine. In the case of rain, Walkin' with WordXWord will take place in the large event tent on the grounds of The Mount.


DWELL

Poets Creating Conversation

Sunday, September 7, 2025

The Mount / Edith Wharton's Home
2 Plunkett St, Lenox, MA
Free

The theme is DWELL. WordXWord’s Poets Creating Conversation throws out a single word/idea. This month we're asking poets to linger, loiter, or perhaps even reside inside of DWELL.

We long ago learned that there is no predicting how the outside world and/or which life experiences and challenges will insert themselves into the conversation. That’s the magic sauce that makes PCC work. For this event, DWELL has the floor. Let’s see where it takes us.

This event will be presented outdoors in the dell behind the Stable. Bring your own chair or blanket. In the case of rain, this event will be moved to an indoor space tbd.