The Poets

Something a little different on The Poets today. I am joined by Luis Garza, a digital marketing strategist and representative of Frederick Kirwin, author of Lost Songs of the Withlacoochee. Luis shares an excerpt from Kirwin's book, and we discuss themes of first loves, love lost and found, the rivers of the world, Garza's work with Kirwin, and Kirwin's corpus overall.

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Lost Songs of the Withlacoochee can be purchased at Apollo Books

You can learn more about, and get in touch with, Luis Garza at his website.

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Frederick Kirwin graduated from Florida State University with a BA in History and International Affairs and an MA in Government. He passed the preliminary examinations for the PhD program in Government, received a teaching fellowship, and co-authored a scholarly article with Richard Gray, PhD, titled “Presidential Succession in Chile: 1817– 1966,” published in the Journal of Inter-American Studies (January 1969). He later withdrew from the program to accept a Shubert Fellowship in Theatre, earning an MFA in Playwriting. 

His published works include Lost Songs of the Withlacoochee (poetry), Confessions of a Drowning Man (an epic poem), Songs Of the Garden of Delights (poetry), Body Carnal (poetry), Body Sacred (poetry), Talking About Diana's Death (a non-puff parody), Billy and Dakota (a BL love story), Dog Bites Man (a thriller), Past Love, Praise, Indifference, Blame (a play). 

Production of his plays includes Billy (Playwrights Horizons, NYC); Swan Dive (Playwrights Horizons, NYC); Dog Bites Man (Marlborough Theatre, Brighton, UK, and later at the Rock Theatre, Brighton, U.K.); The Lottery (Tristan Bates Theatre, Covent Garden, London, UK, and later at Fox Theatre, London, UK); Talking about Diana (King's Head Theatre, London, UK, and later at the Camden People's Theatre, London, UK). 

Kirwin is the recipient of The Dramatists Guild Fund Award and five Edward Albee Foundation Fellowships, and he served as Playwright-in-Residence at the North Carolina School of the Arts. His screenplay for the film, Dog Bites Man, received ten Best Script Awards.

Madden Wishard (they/them) can be summed up as “a lumbering soul but trying to fly,” a phrase written by John Steinbeck. Growing up in Northern Virginia, they always felt an immense pressure to be who they were not. As a queer and trans person in a conservative evangelical Christian community, they felt a keen sense of rejection. As they grew, they realized the power of words and began writing about their experiences. They hope ultimately to touch others with their writing. 

Their poetry is focused on mental health, recovery, acceptance, and beauty. They have shared at Denver’s Pearl open mic night many times and are publishing their first book, Making Marmalade, which focuses on simple joys amidst harsh realities. 

They have just begun their career as a surgical technologist after graduating from school with a degree in applied science. Prior to this, they worked with kids in mental health for 9 years. Their writing often bends towards the beauty in the intricate human body and that found in young minds.

Ashley Howell Bunn (she/they) completed her MFA in poetry through Regis University and holds a MA in Literature from Northwestern University. Their first chapbook, in coming light, was published in 2022 by Middle Creek Publishing and their second chapbook, Living Amends, is forthcoming through Galileo Press . Her first full-length collection, burning, breaking, building was published by South Broadway Press. Their work has been supported by Bread Loaf Writers' Conference and Sundress Publications. She is an adjunct instructor of English at the Community College of Denver and the Youth Program Manager at Lighthouse Writers Workshop. When she isn’t writing, she is practicing yoga, running in the sunshine, playing with her kids, or daydreaming and staring off into space.

Ashley will be launching her new book burning, breaking, building on Thursday, April 23rd 2026 at Strawberry Mountain from 6-8 pm.

Brock is an author and poet whose work lives at the intersection of performance and the printed page. A familiar voice at the Pearl open mic and poetry slam, he is the author of the poetry collections Mercury Prepared and Moonlight Speaks—which were brought together in the volume Mercury and Moonlight.

Venturing from the stage to the bookshelf, Brock has also published the children’s picture book The Lost Dragon. When not actively suffering from a bout of writer’s block, they can usually be found circling Sloan’s Lake or scouting Denver’s quietest corners, searching for that next spark of local inspiration.

Brock's Book of Poetry, Mercury and Moonlight, can be purchased here.

Elizabeth Woods-Darby is a somatic therapy-trained poet, mother & multi-media artist.

Her work centers on the permeability and grit of motherhood and is influenced by her childhood growing up on a rural farmstead in Colorado without running water. Her work often seeks to connect the wilderness of nature to the wildness of humanity. Her first book of poetry Bones We Made Together out Feb 21st, 2026 from Daxson Publishing.

Elizabeth will be part of an event celebrating her book launch THIS SATURDAY February 21st, 2026 at Babe's Tea Room (Entrance on, 2401 15th Street, Platte St #170, Denver, CO 80202) from 5:30 to 7:30pm. All are welcome!

Follow Elizabeth on Instagram, TikTok, and see more of her work at her website.

Lady Julianne is a poet, film maker, business owner & visionary — working to build her audience & grow in every direction of her passions. 

With a handful of life experiences that taught her resilience fairly early - Lady Julianne transmutes her lessons & pain into reframes that feel light & magical while simultaneously encouraging introspection & depth. Lady Julianne seeks to use written & performance poetry to inspire one to see themselves, the world, & their own potential differently. 

In her words: I’d love it if people consumed my work & thought to themselves: "maybe I can" or - even better, "maybe I am."  

Julianne has no intention of shying away from how deeply she cares about writing & expanding her craft. Often visualizing a reality where global reach is attainable for her. This is only the beginning. 

IG @LadyJuliannee

Doctor Ricardo J. Bogaert-Álvarez is a retired Dominican-American chemical engineer and award-winning poet. He was born in Santiago, Dominican Republic and grew up in a hacienda. He obtained his B.S. in chemical engineering at the PUCMM[1] in Santiago. Then he attended the University of Delaware where he graduated with his chemical engineering masters and PhD. He has lived in the United States since 1981 and resides in Denver with his beloved wife Laura. He has published poems in the “El Sol” newspaper and in the magazines “The New Press” and “Ribbons” among other publications. He taught chemistry and chemical engineering in several universities. He has published four bilingual poetry books: “The Samurai Poet”, “The Dance of the Phoenix,” “Romance and Haiku Elixir” and now “Chronicles of a Young Dominican.” In those books, each poem is in Spanish and English. He is a member of the Columbine Poets, Inc, which is a poetry club at the state level in Colorado. In poetry contests of this club, he has won several awards. He also presented several workshops in that club. He’s also a member of the Tanka Society of America. He’s the treasurer of the Colorado Alliance of Latino Mentors and Author (CALMA). Since 2021 his main efforts have been focused on introducing the poetic form Tanka to Colorado.

Clarence Barbee returns to the show with his saxophone and excerpts from his new book, Lessons and Libations, available for free here.

Clarence Barbee is a multi-talented individual known for his literary achievements. As the author of multiple distinct works, “Chicken Soup and a Shot of Jack” and his debut poetry book “Fire Molten and Ash,” he showcases his versatility and creativity. Now, with the release of Lessons and Libations, Clarence continues to display a wit and keenness in his written (and spoken) works.

With a background as a spoken word artist, he has mastered the art of weaving words into evocative pieces that resonate with emotions. He was known for traveling the southeastern US under the stage name Nabraska. Currently serving as an educator in the Denver area, Clarence continues to inspire and shape young and old minds. He’s also a pretty great girl Dad!

His passion for writing remains unwavering as he diligently works on new ventures, including upcoming books, short stories, and poetry collections, further solidifying his place in the literary world.

Follow Clarence on IG ⁠@authorclarencebarbee⁠ and ⁠@poet402⁠

Clarence’s Works can be found through the following links: ⁠

On The Brink (Chapbook/ebook) 3/2013⁠ ⁠

Shattered (Chapbook/ebook) 3/2013⁠ ⁠

Chicken Soup & A Shot of Jack (essays/poetry/short stories) 6/2015⁠

⁠Fire Molten & Ash (poetry) 1/2020⁠

In this special episode, enjoy a live recorded duet performance of "Nothing New Under The Sun" performed by SETH and Lady Julianne. Recorded on Friday, November 21st at The Pearl in downtown Denver, CO.

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@ladyjuliannee

ladyjulianne.co

SETH's website

And now, the one and only Marilyn Megenity

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Matriarch, Astrology, Mother, Poet, Playwright, Patron of the Arts, Friend, Grandmother, Activist, Cultural Revolutionary, Humanitarian, Environmentalist, Lover, Earth Lover, Restaurateur, Pacifist, Diviner, Mystic, Dancer, Feminist, Gardener, Leader, Community Builder, Satirist, Executive Chef, Businesswoman, Mentor, Actor, Brilliant, Beloved, Ineffable, Unstoppable founder and chef of the three ring circus, The Mercury Cafe.

Feeding patrons healthy food for 46 years, her exploration of arts, politics, and community that surrounded food began on the Ides Of March 1975 in Indian Hills Colorado. After several incarnations in Denver, The Mercury Cafe settled at 2199 California St, the center of town in 1990, opening on Halloween.

Marilyn would like to remind you Local Organic Food is your birthright.

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Philip Tran is a poet of many mediums—words, collage, and the ephemeral art of live performance. Hailing from Denver, he is a passport-wielding wanderer, a florist with an eye for beauty, a handyman with a poet’s touch, a roller skater chasing rhythm, and an emcee who curates spaces where voices rise and resonate.

As the longtime host of Denver’s beloved 4th Friday poetry open mic—formerly at The Mercury Cafe, soon to be The Pearl—Philip fosters a stage where vulnerability meets applause. His podcast, From My Open Mic, captures the raw electricity of live poetry, available on Spotify.

In 2023, he launched Bound By The Beat, an event weaving together Denver’s rope bondage and jazz communities, an experiment in trust, tension, and improvisation. Stay tuned for the next edition of Bound By The Beat.

With a choose-your-own-adventure poetry book in the works and a hunger for new stages, Philip may soon be performing near you. When asked what superpower he’d choose, he answered: To awaken the superpowers in those unaware of their own.

@invader_4 & (NSFW) @invader__4