Woodland Pattern’s National Poetry Marathon Brings Milwaukee Creatives To The Masses

Shorter version originally published in Milwaukee Magazine 1/27/23

For nearly thirty years, poets have flocked to Riverwest’s Woodland Pattern Book Center for their annual stanza-extravaganza Poetry Marathon and Benefit. Since the event went virtual in 2021, the two-day, 24-hour marathon has included regional artists and odists read their works with intervals of improvised music, experimental film clips, and contemplative conversations among organizers, participants and audience members. 

Participants range from beginner writers to professionals creatives, from teens to retired, different cultural backgrounds, races and ethnicities, and a myriad of life experiences to celebrate “our shared humanity and the possibilities of language.”

“We work with small presses and organizations,” says Jenny Gropp Executive Director at Woodland Pattern Book Center. “It’s become this amazing collaborative event that opens Milwaukee poetry to the national scene and national poetry to Milwaukee writers.”

Each year, nearly 300 people participate in the marathon each year from all over the country and internationally-- and an astonishing 2,000 viewers tune in throughout the 24 hour period. 

Each poet taps into their community to help fundraise, with a goal of $50 in pledges per participant. The money raised actively keeps Woodland Pattern Book Center’s doors open, providing funding for the hundreds of programs and activities throughout the year. 

One of the newest programming efforts is the creation of the Milwaukee Youth Poet Laureate Program that was developed in collaboration with The Academy of American Poets and Wisconsin’s current Poet Laureate, Dasha Kelly Hamilton. 

Woodland Pattern Book Center has served young and aspiring poets in Milwaukee through MPS and other organizations for years. Peter Burzynski, the Book Center Manager and 15-year participant in the Poetry Marathon became a poet with help from the staff when he was a teen.

“The Poetry Marathon helped shepard me into poetry,” says Burzynski. “I was 17 years old. I came into this store and (former Literary Program Director) Chuck Stebelton suggested I join in the marathon. I signed up for the 11 p.m. slot thinking all the heavy hitters would be finished by that time.

Burzynski read after Antler and Jeff Poniewaz, two beat poets who were dear friends of Allen Ginsburg.

“I remember thinking, ‘that’s a tough act to follow,” says Burzynski. The three poets ended up chatting until 1:30, helping to blossom Burzynski’s interests and career. 

The marathon has been an integral part of Milwaukee’s creative scene for nearly three decades. Some locals have participated every single year. 

“It’s refreshing to see the marathon evolve and survive,” says Gropp. 

This year’s event takes place on Saturday, January 28 and Sunday, January 29 from 10 a.m. - 10 p.m. The entire event will be streamed online at woodlandpattern.org/poetry-marathon