Poets@Play is a monthly creative writing workshop hosted by former Santa Clara County Poet Laureate David Perez. Each session features a different guest facilitator—or sometimes David himself—leading hands-on exercises to inspire creativity and new ideas.

Our Facilitator: Darrell Dela Cruz
Darrell Dela Cruz’s debut collection This is a Love Poem, Listen (Tourane Poetry Press) came out in 2024.  His work has also appeared in Saw Palm, The Minetta Review, Crab Orchard Review, Studio One, Steam Ticket, and Cider Press Review. As an editor, he worked in Reed Magazine and Red Wheelbarrow. He was a VONA 2025 fellow.   For more about him and his analysis of poems: ddcpoetry.blogspot.com.

Workshop Description: (Failed) Love Poems

After watching Heated Rivalry and seeing the outpour of love and support from people for a genuine and joyful queer love story, I looked back on my work and realized I never wrote a love poem that was just joyous.

In this generative workshop, we’re going to attempt to write joyous love poems – or at least try to.  Some of the most effective poems in my life were about failing to write a love poem.

Using Elizabeth Bishop, Harold Norse, and Bill Knott as guides we’ll learn the ways they “failed” into successfully portraying humor, yearning, regret, but also recognizing the beauty and depth of their emotions within their lines.

No RSVP required. Just show up at 1:00pm

Admission: Free (donations welcome)

📍Location: Markham House @ History Park
635 Phelan Ave, San Jose, CA.

Free parking right outside of the main gate or in the lot at the end of Phelan Avenue (except during some History Park events.)

Once you walk into the park from Phelan Avenue, go straight until the road dead ends, then make a left. Markham House is then the second house on your left. There will be a flag over the steps that reads OPEN.