The North Shore Poets’ Forum was created in the mid 1970s as an informal group of poets who were interested in learning more about the art and craft of poetry. It is still dedicated to this purpose.

The group provides workshops at each of its seven meetings. All forum members are invited to prepare workshops, which could focus on anything from a particular form of poetry, a poet, a theme, or any other facet of poetry that strikes the presenter’s fancy.

Members also offer gentle critiques of one another’s poetry, and enjoy camaraderie during the meetings.

The North Shore Poets’ Forum sponsors a nationwide contest once a year, named for a longtime member Naomi Cherkofsky. Winners are asked to read at the annual reading in honor of National Poetry month, during which attendees are also invited to read if they wish.

Meetings are usually held at the Beverly Public Library on the third Saturday of September, October, November, March, April and May, depending on how holidays fall.

In addition, the forum shares a Holiday meeting with the Massachusetts State Poetry Society, of which it is now a chapter, usually the first week of December.

See our Meetings and Events calendar for more information. See also the Massachusetts State Poetry Society for more information about that organization.

We hope to offer poetry from among our members. To kickstart the page, see Introducing, at the top of this page.

Please share your comments, questions, and enthusiasm.