Guests of the Suffolk Art League painted pictures with words at their annual open mic event poetry and prose event this week.

“This gives us an opportunity to present the literary arts,” said Linda Bunch, Suffolk Art League executive director.

The Art League, in conjunction with local poet and writer Nathan Richardson, hosted the “Poetry, Prose and Pizza” open mic event on Thursday at the Suffolk Museum. Participants read original poetry and prose to a room of fellow writers while chowing down on pizza provided by Sal’s Pizza on Burnett’s Way.

According to Bunch, writers ranging from 9 to 76 read and enjoyed each other’s lyrical verse. One young man even played a Bob Marley song on his guitar, Bunch said.

“It’s nice to get a diversity of ages and backgrounds,” she said.

The majority of the writers read narrative style and free verse poetry. Few of the poems rhymed, Bunch said, but they definitely had musical quality.

The writing was inspirational and spiritual, she said. “Many of them were from the gut.”

“It was a very warm crowd — very non-judgmental,” said Debbie Hill, Suffolk Museum assistant.

There were many newcomers to this annual event, Hill added. She recognized a few faces in the crowd, but she was happy to see all of the new participants.

“Fortunately there are more and more opportunities for spoken word to be presented,” Bunch said. “We like to add to those opportunities. It’s always a very nice evening.”