Pop-Up Poetry

07/16/2026

https://youtu.be/y32ejtuxSjM?is=02EhO4VMJsGr0H4L

Provided to YouTube by EpicP.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing) · Michael ...

07/15/2026

https://youtu.be/d8malp6iu48?is=5B_nP9VBpUedJoxG

Provided to YouTube by Label EngineHope · Twista · Faith EvansC...

07/13/2026

Today is a lovely day to harvest!!!! Here are a few yummy goodies I picked from my raised bed: Tomatoes, lettuce, cucumber and squash. Noe I’m going home to make me a salad 😋. FARM TO TABLE MATTTER!!!!

07/12/2026

Has anyone taken one of my Historical Tours? Stay tuned, I will be offering these tours in July, August, September & October!!!

1.) Hidden Figures Black Women of Roxbury Trolley Tour
2.) Philis Wheatley Peters Walking Tour
3.) Hidden Figures Black Men of Roxbury
Trolley Tour
4.)Arts Rox
5.)Playground Tour
6.) Garden& Farm Tour
7.)In Search of Darby Vassall Trolley Tour of Cambridge and Beyond
8.)Darby Vassall Lives On Beacon Hill and Beyond

07/08/2026

Denise is so excited to be using the power of poetry to positively bring people together one poem at a time! She is the Founder, CEO and Curator of her -Up Poetry Series, A Denise Plays Hard Event. -Up Poetry Series, A Denise Plays Hard Event, is a movement that creates a safe and non-judgmental spaces for all people to breathe, listen, recite and enjoy!
Denise opened for KRS-One at the Black Market, Buy Back Your Block in Nubian Square.
Her Poem, “A Quilt of Greatness” was made into a short-film was selected to have a screening in The 2022 Roxbury International Film Festival. This year her “ Enslaved African” poem which was made into a short film had its premiere this year at the Roxbury International Film Festival.
She was born and raised in Roxbury, MA; is a METCO graduate of Lincoln -Sudbury Regional High School, an Elma Lewis School of Fine Arts Alum, a voice student of the late John Andrew Ross, a Mentee of the late Ed Bullins and is a New England Poetry Club Advisory Board Member.
She holds a MS in Early Childhood Education from Wheelock College and a BS from Emerson College in Television Production/Creative Writing.
For several years, she lived in North Hollywood, California. While living there she discovered her love for writing television scripts, plays, poetry and Children’s literature and she became a Television Writer on a show produced by HBO.

07/08/2026

Sustenance
Written by Denise Washington

Polyrhythms of balaphones
dropped on my bedroom window pane

My ears listened closely, not to miss the integral message

My bare feet followed suit and my nose sensed in syncopation

My boubou gown felt the moisture outside and my hips improvised

My eyes witnessed the attributes and
my tongue tasted the power.

cDeniseWashington08/2018

07/04/2026

What to the slave is Fourth of July?

07/02/2026

Weee are the fabric of our community!

"Quilt of Greatness", -Up Poetry Series, A Denise Plays Hard E...

06/27/2026

This is today! Meet me at the garden on the corner of Warren Street & Walnut Ave. in Roxbury & plant some sunflowers seeds with me! See flyer for more details!!!

06/22/2026

Daddy, Daddy
Written by

Daddy, Daddy,
you’re so tall
Daddy, Daddy,
you liked to play & watch football!

Daddy, Daddy
i loved when you carried me on your shoulders
Daddy, Daddy
i could see everything & promised to recite this poem when I’m older!

Daddy, Daddy
after work, you used to take us to the Chinese restaurant in our pajamas
Daddy, Daddy,
we would pile in your station wagon & the ride would calm us!

Daddy, Daddy
Mumie used to grab her coat and cover her night gown
Daddy, Daddy,
because Mumie didn’t want anyone to see her in her bedroom clothes downtown!

Daddy, Daddy
you like to take pictures
Daddy, Daddy,
you also like to film us, take home movies, paint our bedrooms & tinker with the lighting fixtures!

Daddy, Daddy,
you soar like the eagle on your work shirt
Daddy, Daddy,
you like to eat strawberries ice cream for dessert!

Daddy, Daddy
your favorite colors are blue and tan
Daddy, Daddy,
your a strong Black Man!

Daddy, Daddy
i still remember when we went bike riding up Franklin Park
Daddy Daddy,
i still remember when you used to make pickles and place them on the dark!

Daddy, Daddy,
you love to shine your shoes
Daddy, Daddy,
you even taught me &
Kendell, too!

Daddy, Daddy,
you showed us how to
place the shoe on the box, put the polish on, bush the shoe and snap, snap the cloth back!
Daddy, Daddy
you always, serve, protect, provide and give back!

Daddy, Daddy
your favorite cologne was “Old Spice”
Daddy, Daddy,
you’re so nice!

Daddy, Daddy
you’re so handsome
Daddy,Daddy
and so are your grandsons!

Daddy, Daddy,
You fought for this country,
Daddy, Daddy
In honor of you & Mumie, I’ll plant a Magnolia tree!

Daddy Daddy,
You are a strong black man, a strong man black man, a strong black man, a strong black man, strong black man, a strong black man, A STRONG BLACK MAN!