Yarra Valley Spoken Word

03/02/2026

First poetry production meeting of the year held at the fabulous new Wine Bar with the delightful host Jim!🙏
Great Food by the River…

14/01/2026

Another Summer Poetry School Excursion!

We had such a good time last night in Fitzroy at chaotic musings, we’re off on an adventure again!

Saturday 31st January, 1pm.

Join us for captivating poetry and prose open mic readings at the Life's Too Short Bar, located a stone's throw from Melbourne's CBD in the heart of East Melbourne.

Your ticket includes a $20 voucher towards drinks and/or food you wish to purchase on the day, making your ticket (almost) free - $5 goes to the venue to help cover costs. There are fine vintage wines, cocktails, beer and plenty of non-alcoholic options, as well as great coffee to enjoy, and an extensive European tapas & share plate style menu (to suit almost every dietary need).

POETRY & PROSE: Open Mic "FREEish" in Historic Bluestone Cellar c1854

Location: Tribeca Arcade, Victoria Parade, East Melbourne VIC, Australia

Message us on Facebook to let us know you're coming and if you'd like to travel with us from ECOSS.

Or contact Chris James on 0414 306 772.

Book tickets; there was only 15 tickets left late last night:

https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/poetry-prose-open-mic-freeish-in-historic-bluestone-cellar-c1854-tickets-805989665787?aff=erelexpmlt&fbclid=IwY2xjawPEGLVleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFONVd3V0h2bEFhMEJXc1Bsc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHgq9kfOx6bfIZ7Eo8uBSgrTeTQp8Wm1UiKqSVjSPCupZnuPPvf9B56fGpce7_aem_FtCd7wDWibvD4vOkCbzWeA

Get ready for a heart-warming afternoon of readings in a cool, historic cellar - and guess what? It won't cost you a dime (well, almost!)

13/01/2026

Get ready for a heart-warming afternoon of readings in a cool, historic cellar - and guess what? It won't cost you a dime (well, almost!)

02/01/2026

Happy New Year Fellow Poets! :D

Yarra Valley Spoken Word has planned its Summer Holiday Road Trip and we've decided to Double Dip into the City's offering...

Join us at either or both of the marvellous events below:

Wednesday 14th January, 2026, 7-11pm:

Chaotic Musings: Poetry Social Club A welcoming and community-driven poetry open mic for everyone. Hosted by Vibe Union at Creatures of Habit, Fitzroy

https://www.vibeunion.com.au/chaoticmusings?fbclid=IwY2xjawPEGK5leHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFONVd3V0h2bEFhMEJXc1Bsc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHtrUSzZCFwredEeM59IUSSPldXT5xBR-WqCZkT4qhCEzTNtmh2_I4rvG6H-q_aem_dXZpT6juMFv_EScZu3w0AA

Location:
Creatures of Habit
319 Brunswick St, Fitzroy

Details:
Fortnightly Wednesdays
7pm - 11pm.

And/Or

Saturday 31st January, 1pm.

Join us for our captivating poetry and prose open mic readings at the Life's Too Short Bar, located a stone's throw from Melbourne's CBD in the heart of East Melbourne.

Your ticket includes a $20 voucher towards drinks and/or food you wish to purchase on the day, making your ticket (almost) free - $5 goes to the venue to help cover costs. There are fine vintage wines, cocktails, beer and plenty of non-alcoholic options, as well as great coffee to enjoy, and an extensive European tapas & share plate style menu (to suit almost every dietary need).

POETRY & PROSE: Open Mic "FREEish" in Historic Bluestone Cellar c1854

https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/poetry-prose-open-mic-freeish-in-historic-bluestone-cellar-c1854-tickets-805989665787?aff=erelexpmlt&fbclid=IwY2xjawPEGLVleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFONVd3V0h2bEFhMEJXc1Bsc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHgq9kfOx6bfIZ7Eo8uBSgrTeTQp8Wm1UiKqSVjSPCupZnuPPvf9B56fGpce7_aem_FtCd7wDWibvD4vOkCbzWeA

Location: Tribeca Arcade, Victoria Parade, East Melbourne VIC, Australia

Message us on Facebook to let us know you're coming and if you'd like to travel with us from ECOSS.

Or contact Chris James on 0414 306 772.

Thank you,

The Yarra Valley Spoken Word Team

Get ready for a heart-warming afternoon of readings in a cool, historic cellar - and guess what? It won't cost you a dime (well, almost!)

27/10/2025

This Tuesday night, 28th October at Koha Community Cafe, 6.45pm for a 7pm start, the Life Drawing Class invites you to an opportunity for live creation of a poetic illustration of the naked form.

A cross modal challenge hosted by Sioux Dollman, bring your notebooks and sketchbooks.

$20 each; from 7pm - 9.30 with a half hour Tea, coffee and biscuits break.

Please come on time in respect for the model.

Any questions, please contact Eldritch Forrest 0431 581 538.

Send a message to learn more

24/09/2025

A poem by Andy Travis: co-founder of Yarra Valley Spoken Word.

Sisters Grimm

I’m an arctic she wolf,
Sworn to protect,
Big Green Walking Boots.
The simpleton,
The holy innocent.

He’s nowhere near as smart,
As his sister,
Little Red Riding Hood.

Big Green’s in danger,
From my twin,
The evil one.
He devoured their grandmother.
And the woodsman never caught him.

(Little Red escaped without anyone’s help.
Brothers Grimm told the version that suited men.)

Don’t be fooled by my silky white coat,
My teeth are as sharp,
My jaws as strong.

My womb-mate can see in the dark,
Through his nostrils:
Warm blood,
And the rank armpits of fear.

Rub snow on my fur,
And it glows:
Dispelling darkness,
Of night and souls.

I roll in holy crystal drifts,
As lesser canines,
Roll in s**t perfume.
And I’m ready.

He knows I’m coming,
Smelling my roaring heart’s cargo,
But not my fear -
I have none.

When I tear his carotid arteries from him,
His luminous red,
Jet, jet, jetting,
Melting the snow where it lands…

Will I die too?