Established in 1996 by the Academy of American Poets, National Poetry Month is an annual celebration held every April that raises awareness and appreciation for poetry in the United States. The month-long event encourages people to read, write and share poems, and it's the largest literary celebration in the world. 

Milwaukee has no shortage of wordsmiths, so in honor of National Poetry Month, we're gonna highlight some of the city's most talented poets and spoken word artists. Here are nine:

Lilo Allen

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Milwaukee native Lilo Allen got her start performing poetry on UWM's Lyrical Sanctuary stage as a young teen. She’s performed in several popular poetry houses over the years, from the famed Apache Cafe in Atlanta, Georgia, to The Ritzy Open Mic in London. She prefers to use real life events and current social justice issues as her inspiration for her pieces. Lilo's experiences as an Afro-Caribbean woman informs all of her works and she enjoys exploring her identity through poetry. Follow Lilo on Instagram here.

Ajamou Butler

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Ajamou is a spoken word artist, author, HBO documentary participant, educator and lecturer. In May 2012, he launched a non-profit organization, Heal the Hood MKE, that works to push against social injustice and rewrite the narrative of inner-city Milwaukee. Ajamou is known to use his experiences in Milwaukee and his spirituality mixed together to come up with his own style of spoken word ministry. Ajamo lives by the motto “Heal the hearts, heal the homes, heal the hoods!” Find out more about Ajamou here.

Brenda Cardenas

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In January, Brenda Cardenas began a three-year term as the Wisconsin Poet Laureate. Since then, she's given many readings and guided many poetry writing workshops in visual art spaces, libraries, literary centers, middle schools, high schools, etc. Her latest book, "Trace," was published by Red Hen Press in 2023. She is currently working on another book. To see a list of upcoming engagements and more, click here.

Shelly Conley

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Shelly is the current Poet Laureate of Milwaukee. She is the recipient of the Sisterhood Award and the Power of Voice Award, and her poignant voice has been featured in documentaries, music collaborations and panels. With over two decades of performance experience, she has released two spoken word albums, "Shellshock and Alter Ego," a chapbook "Liquid Healing to the Soul" and co-authored a working journal, "A Journey to Heal Self Heal Her." Her most recent release is "REWIND: A Cathartic Autobiography," and she will release a new chapbook later this month. Shelly hosts The Writer's Hive and will participate in a reading for A Line Meant, celebrating the publishing of an anthology of the same name. For more information about Shelly, go here.

Susan Firer 

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Susan Firer published her first poem as a teen in the Whitefish Bay High School literary magazine and since then has been included in many anthologies, literary journals, podcasts and more. She has six published books and worked as an adjunct professor of poetry at University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. "I have always seen poetry - with its great sounds, portability, elasticity, and attentions to the past and present, to our lives, artichokes, wars, languages, imagination, with all its sense and nonsense, howls and celebrations – as a great site of sanity, energy, and possibility," says Susan. Find more of her work here.

Dasha Kelly Hamilton

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Dasha Kelly Hamilton is a writer, performance artist, curator and facilitator. She has written for national, regional, and local magazines; produced three collections of poetry; recorded four spoken word CDs; published two novels; been included in several anthologies; and performed in the last season of HBO’s Def Poetry Jam. Dasha served as an Arts Envoy for the US Embassy in Botswana and on the island of Mauritius. She was also an artist in residence in Beirut. Dasha has been an adjunct professor at Mount Mary University, Alverno College, Bryant & Stratton, and the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. She was also poet laureate for both Milwaukee and Wisconsin. For more about Dasha, go here.

Brit Nicole 

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Currently, Brit Nicole is the host of Lyrical Sanctuary, UWM's open mic. She also performs and facilitates writing workshops and works on music projects. In 2022, she was named "Best Milwaukee Author" by The Shepherd Express, making her the first Black woman to receive it. She is the author of a book, "Moods, Melanin, and Magic: A Manifesto,” and a poetry album, “Nocturnal Butterfly.” She also created a poetic film, “Soulmate,” that can be viewed on YouTube. Follow Brit on Instagram here.

Anja Notanja Sieger

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Anja is a typewriter poet, performance artist, community collaborator, artist, storyteller, podcaster and more. She has received numerous grants and awards, including The Mary Nohl Suitcase Grant, and served as the Pfister Narrator from 2014 to 2015. "I am a mostly analog artist living in a digital world," says Anja. She has many upcoming gigs. Click here to stay apprised. 

Mario Willis

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Mario Willis served as the Poet Laureate of Milwaukee from 2022-2024. He is also a writing guide, podcaster, two-time member of Milwaukee's National Poetry Slam Team and more. He recently released the chapbook, "Pub games, Sophistry, and The Rush To Judgement.” He is a longtime curator of Poet’s Monday at Linnemann’s in Riverwest during which he also sells his book. He will perform live on Friday, April 25 at Rise & Grind Cafe with DJ Noc & Prince Daniel. Follow Mario on Instagram here.

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