SAVON BARTLEY

Blues poet & playwright—turning personal pain and cultural memory into art that heals, provokes, and unites.

 

READ

UNCUT BLUES

I write to document the scope and sweep of black life in blues poetics. From poetry and essays to plays and lyrical prose, my work lives at the intersection of love, memory, culture, and truth. You’ll find most of my writing on my Substack (Uncut Blues), and the rest across the stages where stories are meant to be sung.

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About

Savon Bartley is a Black American poet and playwright from North Chicago, Illinois

Rooted in the tradition of the blues, he writes to document the scope and sweep of Black life in America—and to remind us that we are all more alike than we are different. Through poetry, performance, and the rhythms of modern language, he blurs the line between poem and song while exploring race, culture, love, mental health, and masculinity.

By documenting the nuanced realities of black life in America through poetry, playwriting, music, and storytelling, Savon envisions art as a medium to inspire compassion and drive meaningful change.

HOLES IN THE SHAPE OF MY FATHER

A blues about the myth and miracle of boys becoming men

A Play by Savon Bartley

Written & Performed by

Savon Bartley

Past Productions

Under The Radar 2022: The Public Theater

Under The Radar 2023: The Public Theater

Powerhouse Theater 2024: Vassar College

Upcoming Performances

NYC Fall 2025

LEARN HOW TO

WRITE GOOD POETRY

I teach poetry as both a craft and a calling. Through Write Good Poetry, I offer workshops, courses, and coaching that help writers find their voice, refine their tools, and write the kinds of poems that matter. Whether you’re just starting out or deep in revision, I meet you where you are.