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 Peter’s Street Station’s Poetry on Peter (POP). 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 city. In 2020, she made a pivotal decision to leave the music industry after the realization that it wasn’t serving her and that her true passion lay in poetry and event curating rather than songwriting. 

After Sarver came across a post on the Peter’s Street Station Instagram in June 2021 asking for new curated events, she knew it was a sign. A month later, POP was born. Almost three years later, the weekly Monday event hosts a vibrant atmosphere that has garnered a loyal crowd of Black musicians, small-business owners, and, most notably, poets.

“It’s turned from a passion to a duty. At first, it was just a place to save myself, but once I got myself on good ground, it became my duty to do what I did for myself to do for others.”

Guests swayed to the live music by the talented in-house band…