Jeff Danielian couldn’t keep the smile off his face.

He was pacing around the large main room of “Fort Foreclosure,” the Water Street art studio and home of William Schaff, talking poetry. Seven writers had just taken turns reading their pieces in front of an audience of about 20 and Mr. Danielian, a published poet and teacher at LaSalle Academy, had finished reading his own. Now everyone was taking a break before the second half started.

“Isn’t this great? People are coming to Warren from all over because of this. I love it!”

It was last Tuesday evening, the third ever “Words at the Fort” poetry night at Fort Foreclosure. The open reading night is open to all and, unlike the Slam Poetry phase that was big some years ago, is meant to be non-judgmental, inviting and friendly. The regular event was started by Mr. Danielian and Bristol musician Allysen Callery, a published poet who has been writing for several decades but took a public reading hiatus until recently.

“We wanted something that everyone could feel comfortable coming to,” said Ms. Callery, who read three thematically related poems Tuesday night. “There’s no judgment here.”

So far, there hasn’t been, and word is getting out. Tuesday night, poets traveled from across Rhode Island and as far away as Voluntown, Conn., to read.

Warren’s Jeff the Postman read his short notes of love to Warren and his neighbors. Mike Meagher, whose family comes from Nova Scotia, read poems about hard work and the life of his father, who was once a whaler:

“I don’t want to know how red the water was, or how it feels to fish out some dead whale’s tooth,” he said.

Elwood Donnelly, half of the Warren folk singing duo of Atwater Donnelly, spoke about the loss of his mother, the blessing of making true connections, and love.

And Amber Langanke, who traveled from Voluntown, Conn. to read, chose a few selected works from her first published book.

In all, close to 20 poets read pieces, and all were allowed to read three works, with a 10-minute time limit.

Mr. Danielan said word has been spreading about the monthly readings, and he is happy to see such diverse talent coming from Rhode Island and beyond. One of the biggest pitfalls for young or novice poets is finding a non-judgmental audience. Hosting the regular readings where poets aren’t judged can do wonders for self-confidence, he said. That’s the whole point, Ms. Callery added:

“This is the polar opposite of Slam Poetry,” she said.

Another big step for novice poets is being published for the first time. Mr. Danielan and Ms. Callery have plans to collect original poems read at the Fort and combine them in an anthology, which will be professionally bound and published.

“We want to give poets this platform to get their work out there,” he said. “It’s all about supporting the art.”

Note: Words at the Fort runs monthly. The next scheduled set is Monday, July 18. As always, it starts at 7 p.m. and generally runs to about 9 p.m. After a first round of readings, there is usually a break before a second half starts. Fort Foreclosure is at 164 Water St. It’s free.