The Olive Tree Poetry Mic

Date and Time

• Thursday, Apr 23, 2026  4pm - 8pm

Location

Details

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The Olive Tree is a poetry mic and public gathering space that seeks to honor the deeply rooted tradition of spoken word in Santa Cruz, while uplifting the emerging voices of today. This month we’ve got a double feature from Susanna & Wil Gibson!

“ We are Susanna and Wil Gibson & we’re a husband-and-wife duo of poets bringing a show that’s raw, beautiful, unrelenting, and honest—yet also playful, loving, and fun. This tour celebrates the release of a full-length poetry collection by Susanna Gibson, Homestead in Reverse, and the 10th anniversary of Wil's book Harvest the Dirt, woven into a performance that blends solo readings, collaborative work, and audience interaction. Expect a night of words that cut deep, laughter that lifts, and a chemistry that keeps the room moved, moving, and buzzing.”

Each monthly event includes a free writing workshop, poetry open mic, with a featured reader at the end, highlighting new publications from local writers, as well as the works of touring poets.

The title of this event — The Olive Tree — has a multitude of meaning. A living symbol of life and resilience that has been cherished by many cultures for thousands of years, around the Mediterranean and beyond, olive trees are a living embodiment of our connection to other places around the world, and to all people who call the land home.

Informed by previous public offerings like The Word Church, Kinetic Poetics Project, Poetry Santa Cruz, among others, this space is intended to create a new opportunity for local poets of all ages and cultural backgrounds to express themselves honestly and emphatically on a public stage.

Follow @olivetreepoetrymic on Instagram to learn more, and we hope to see you there!