Yesterday’s protest poetry workshop at The Feminist Library reminded me why poetry remains one of our most urgent forms of resistance. Phoebe created a space where vulnerability met activism, where personal voice became political statement.
The two-hour session explored how poetry transforms individual experience into collective power. We examined how line breaks can mirror the fractures in systems we’re challenging, how metaphor becomes a way of speaking truths that direct language cannot capture.
“Poetry can be a powerful tool for self-expression and social change,” the workshop description promised, and watching participants discover their voices proved this beautifully. Writers crafted pieces about displacement, workplace experiences, and personal struggles that transformed frustration into art.
What struck me most was how protest poetry doesn’t require anger — though anger has its place. Some of the most powerful pieces emerged from quiet determination, from the simple act of refusing to be silenced.
The inclusive atmosphere welcomed all experience levels, proving that protest poetry isn’t about perfection but about presence. Every voice matters when the goal is expanding who gets heard.
Staying for the Summer Fair afterward felt like extension of the workshop — community building through books, conversation, and shared commitment to spaces that amplify marginalized voices.
The Feminist Library continues demonstrating how cultural institutions can nurture both artistic expression and social consciousness.
— Writer Anastasia Dubinina