Poetry on Peter: Downtown Atlanta’s Black creative outlet

Red and blue lights blend into a purple hue, illuminating a picturesque stage reminiscent of an intimate jazz club. Photo by Kerri Phox/The Atlanta Voice Miyana Sarver always knew Poetry on Peter (POP) would be special. However, the poet and driving force behind POP didn’t predict it would blossom into the community it has become today. Red and blue lights blend into a purple hue, illuminating a picturesque stage reminiscent of an intimate jazz club or a scene plucked out of the pages of one of the many books adorning the stage of Peters Street Station’s Poetry on Peter. The lone mic at center stage is always warm, either by the hands of a lively host or one of the poets who scrounge up the courage to share their words at the free weekly event that has become a safe space for Atlanta’s Black creatives. “At first, I didn’t even realize what was happening,” Sarver said. “It makes me feel blessed. And it also makes me feel like, ‘huh, I wonder what God saw in me to be given such a task.’” Originally from Louisville, Kentucky, Sarver got acclimated with Atlanta’s arts scene by performing at poetry events around the...