Mark Bromberg has released his latest poetry collection, One Day the Birds Will Explain Everything, a thoughtful and witty exploration of life’s experiences. The book offers a mix of memories and reflections, delivered in a familiar and comforting tone that feels like a conversation with an old friend.
This new collection follows Bromberg’s debut poetry book, Straw Hat Stanzas, which was published in 2022 and later nominated for a Georgia Author of the Year Award by the Georgia Writers Association in 2023. While both works draw inspiration from everyday life, Bromberg describes One Day the Birds Will Explain Everything as more personal, with deeper themes. Poems like “Joy Joy Beauty & Party Supply,” “Wholeheartedly, Ort,” and “The Starlings of Hollie Street” offer glimpses into Bromberg’s world, reflecting his strong connection to his surroundings.
“There’s a focus on life in Athens in this second book,” Bromberg, now 72, explains. “I’m paying more attention to the daily details.”
Bromberg credits much of his success to the connections he’s made with other poets in his community. Many of the poems in his new collection were developed during a weekly gathering of poets at Donderos’ Kitchen, where writers shared their work and motivated each other to pursue publication.
“I encourage readers to explore my poems like they would explore a neighborhood,” Bromberg says. “Try one poem, then another. People are often taught to fear poetry, but as one poet wrote, ‘One reader is a miracle. Two readers is a mass movement.’ My poems cover topics ranging from cats and dogs to love, aging, and even a little boy spreading out Cheerios on the floor at Kroger. I hope my work inspires more people to pick up a poetry book.”
Bromberg is a longtime participant in Athens Word of Mouth, a monthly poetry open mic event held at The Globe. He discovered the group in 2010 through Flagpole’s event listings and quickly became friends with the group’s founder, Aralee Strange, who passed away in 2013. When Strange’s health declined, she asked Bromberg and Alex Johns to continue the monthly readings.
Today, Johns hosts the events, while Bromberg, with the help of Amanda Dzimianski, manages social media and promotions. David Oates, host of “Wordland” on WUGA 91.7 and 94.5 FM, serves as the open mic’s announcer. The group is celebrating its 15th anniversary this year, a testament to the enduring appeal of poetry.
“Athens Word of Mouth still welcomes new poets every month, which is a wonderful part of Aralee’s legacy,” says Bromberg. “The readings give writers, who are often shy, the chance to share their work with a supportive and welcoming audience. It’s a valuable resource in Athens’ creative scene and has inspired other open mic poetry events in the area.”
Each Word of Mouth event also features a 30-minute reading by a guest poet. The next event, on Wednesday, September 4, will feature Mikhayla Robinson Smith, Athens’ current Poet Laureate. Future guests include Atlanta-based poets Collin Kelley in October and Lee Furey in November.
Bromberg plans to read at September’s Athens Word of Mouth and will join fellow local poet Bob Ambrose in Cincinnati later this month for a reading. One Day the Birds Will Explain Everything is published by Tennessee-based Parson’s Porch Books and is available for purchase online, with local availability coming soon.