The new Poet Laureate of West Hollywood, Jen Cheng, has burst out of the gates running. Not only does she host the literary series Palabras Literary Salon at Latinx With Plants in Boyle Heights, this month alone she’s been at an artist talk at the bG Gallery in Santa Monica as a part of poetry for art and hosted a poetry writing workshop at the West Hollywood Library.

Today, Cheng debuts “The West Hollywood Holiday Poetry Hotline” that runs from the 18^th through the 31^st and is available 24/7.

As it says in the city’s press release: “Holiday stress doesn’t need to get us down when we have poetry to connect us to our shared humanity. Inspired by the Poetry Pharmacy, the West Hollywood Holiday Poetry Hotline is designed and lead by…Jen Cheng to offer poetry and compassion during the winter holiday season.

Dial to the Live Hotline at 310-853-3952 on December 23 from 2pm-5pm to receive a ‘poem prescription’ from a live reader or a custom poem.

Recorded poems will be available 24/7” the entire 14 days for anyone who needs a little hope and comfort.

The recommended poems were curated by Cheng and read by members of the public at a workshop lead by Cheng on the 16^th. After, community members who wanted to share their voices for the live portion on the 23^rd, stayed after to practice.

Yet, even with “The West Hollywood Holiday Poetry Hotline,” the year is not over for Cheng. On the 30^th she’s teaching “Feng Shui Poetry: A Writing Workshop” helping others write poems in this, her invented form, poetry through the lens of the Five Elements of Wellness.

If December is any indication, in 2024 Jen Cheng will hit the ground running, sharing her love for the power of poetry with the people.