Chris Bodor

The Art of Poetry

By Danielle Torry

Chris Bodor has become a steady force in St. Augustine’s creative life, not by making poetry feel exclusive, but by making it feel available.

A first-generation American, Chris Bodor was born in 1967 in Connecticut to an English mother and a Hungarian father. After ten years working in film production and audiovisual services in New York City, he moved to Florida in 2003. A few years later, he was asked to start a monthly poetry reading in St. Augustine, an invitation that grew into a lasting tradition and a welcoming home for writers, performers, and listeners.

In August 2009, Bodor helped launch the monthly open mic hosted by Ancient City Poets, a gathering that has continued on the last Sunday of the month for 16 years. The rhythm is simple and consistent: an open mic sign-up sheet is set out at 2:30 PM, and the mic turns on at 3:00 PM. The event is free, and donations are welcomed. It takes place at St. Augustine Waterworks (184 San Marco Avenue), a fitting venue for a tradition built on community and shared voice.

What makes the series endure is its spirit. Bodor describes an open door to all skill levels and styles—words written on cocktail napkins, pages pulled from notebooks, poems printed from home printers, polished pieces and brave first drafts alike. The point isn’t perfection; it’s participation. Week after week and year after year, the event has created a rare kind of room: one where listening matters, where newcomers are treated like regulars, and where people leave feeling seen. Bodor’s leadership also extends beyond the stage. He serves as editor-in-chief of the international literary journal A.C. PAPA (Ancient City Poets, Authors, Photographers, and Artists), widening the circle for creators who want their work to travel.

In 2023, he was named Florida State Beat Poet Laureate by National Beat Poetry Foundation—recognition that reflects both his artistic contributions and his long-running dedication to building spaces where creative writing and reciting can thrive.

That same commitment helps power St. Augustine PoetFest (April 9–11), a free celebration supported by Flagler College and St. Johns Cultural Council, proving that in this town, poetry isn’t a one-night event, it’s a culture.

Learn more at www.ancientcitypoets.org

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