Open Mic ft. Skyelyn Riggs-Davis!

Next week at the Cantab Lounge: a feature by Skyelyn Riggs-Davis & our monthly workshop by Tom Daley!
FEATURE INFO: Skyelyn Riggs-Davis is a transgender performance poet from Mesa, Arizona. His work predominately tackles queer struggle, family dynamics, and what it means to be an Arizonan in a rapidly changing landscape. In 2024 he toured with Ghost Poetry Show, and in 2026 with Body Slam, competing regionally at Chicharra Poetry Slam Festival in Albuquerque, NM and Bigfoot Poetry Festival in Portland, OR. Skyelyn is the current 2026 Arizona State Poetry Slam Champion. In July of 2025, he went on to place 4th at the Blackberry Peach National Poetry Slam. Skyelyn represented Arizona again at the national competition in 2026, winning first place in the National Underground Poetry Individual Competition. Since 2024, Skyelyn has hosted BODY SLAM with Atlas St. Cloud and Evie O’Toole- a wrestling-themed, bracket-style poetry event in Phoenix.

WORKSHOP INFO: We’ll be taking a look at the sonnet and how to use it as a love poem and a political poem. We’ll start by reading two Shakespearean sonnets, one from the 19th and one from the 20th century. We’ll discuss the form, and then start working on our own poem.
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The feature might be live streamed on our instagram @bostonpoetryslam
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Accessibility information: The portion of the Cantab where the poetry show is hosted is accessible by one flight of stairs. There is seating available as well as standing room. We highly encourage the use of masks and have them available for anyone who wants one, but they are not required, per venue management.
There are two single-stall, gender neutral bathrooms. Both require stepping onto a slight ledge to access. No flashing lights are used and no music is played over the speakers throughout the show; in general, the room is dimly lit/dark throughout, but can often get loud from conversations occurring. Please message us with any specific questions and we will get back t