Poetry has a habit of accumulating stereotypes. A mention of the word conjures images of stuffy coffee shops, beret-wearing beatniks or, worse still, whiny goth kids.

During the first Thursday of each month, developing local poets converge on The House of Bricks in Des Moines to set aside these stereotypes and share a piece of their minds.

Leonard Bell is a co-founder and the host of “Say What!” open mic night. “Say What!” is an open forum poetry and variety exhibition that provides a microphone and an audience. But the show, Bell insists, is provided by the poets and performers who show up each night.

“You could come every week and still not know what the show is going to be like,” Bell said, “It just depends on what the beat of the show is like.”

Along with providing a stage for poets to share their creations, “Say What!” also allows them to develop their presence and delivery. Show co-host, Brandie Young, said her experiences have helped her grow as a performer and set goals about how to improve.

“I need to learn to perform [my poems] before I go to the next level,” she said. “I am learning there are emotions connected with every word that you write.”

Young says her ideas often come directly from the process of writing and help her discover more about herself.

“I think there might be health benefits to it, getting your thoughts out and on paper,” Young said.

Local poets aren’t the only ones finding their voices at “Say What!” The stage is also open to singers, hip-hop artists and the imagination of individual performers.

“Poetry is the dominating force. However, we are open to any expression, within reason,” Bell said.

“Sometimes a guy will come up with an acoustic guitar, start playing a song, then stop, do a poem and go on again.”

Bell believes a key to the success of “Say What!” has been creating an intimate, friendly atmosphere for regulars, which still feels inviting to newcomers.

Part of creating this atmosphere is personally trying to make a connection with everyone who comes to check out the show.

“I have been to shows where you come in and feel isolated,” Bell said, “I try to introduce myself to everyone before the show. If you don’t know someone, talk to them.”

Robert Canada, a regular performer at “Say What!,” believes the show’s wide-open atmosphere creates opportunities for participants to explore whatever inspires them.

“A lot of people’s stuff is more serious. I try to make people laugh,” said Canada.

Making the audience laugh often involves developing a more erotic direction for his poetry. Canada still recalls his first performance at “Say What!,” where he read a suggestive poem entitled, “You can have some if you want it.”

“It was a really out-there, dirty kind of poem,” Canada said.

Canada’s poems often raise eyebrows, and on one occasion prompted an outspoken audience member to suggest he take a cold shower.

“I am pretty sure he was just fooling around,” said Canada.

Because of the informal nature of the show, “Say What!” can never count on who or how many performers will be present. Bell recalls one night, when a lack of volunteers left the task of pulling together an entire show for the full audience to him, his co-host Young, and the DJ.

“I think I went through about half of my catalogue of poems, but they were into it,” Bell said, “Four or five people got up and read poems that they wrote right there, on the spot.”

Bell is proud of the success “Say What!” has had making poetry in the Des Moines area popular, but feels there is more that can be done.

Specifically, he believes more artistic opportunities need to be established for younger people to express themselves.

One of these opportunities Bell would like to create is a “Say What! Junior” event, which would be more accessible to high school students and children.

“There’s not a lot of things speaking to their generation, and there are isn’t much they can speak into and hear something back,” Bell said.