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Oct. 8th, 2009 04:25 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
blue_lotus13This week, I have been participating in a national campaign called Random Acts of Poetry . Thirty one poets across Canada are participating in the program, which is sponsored by READ Victoria and is designed to encourage literacy and foster love of poetry.
So as part of this campaign, I am distributing poetry books to random people. I go up to random people, read them a poem and then give them a book. (In case you are concerned, all the poets are financially compensated and the program buys 50 books for us to distribute).
Since it is a literacy program, participants are supposed to make visits in ESL and adult literacy classrooms. I will be going to read some poems and do some writing exercises with students at Grant MacEwan university tomorrow.
I have performed about 20 random acts of poetry so far. I started doing it in Vancouver and have since been doing it in my neighbourhood here in Edmonton. I was very nervous to approach people, and many people are surprised when they are approached, so I tell them that they don't have to buy anything from me, and then go into my spiel. I think people enjoy the random acts of poetry because it makes them feel special. I've had some interesting discussions with people. I got into one discussion with a woman who was of mixed ancestry. Some people are very thankful and honoured to be chosen. Many people worry about the financial consequences of the endeavour. One woman asked me if she could make a donation to me. (I refused it.)
One student and his friend were quite enthused and had me sit down at their cafe table so they could enjoy the reading. Then the recipient of the book gave me a hug :)
I also made one woman cry because she was so incredibly moved by the poem. It was a very powerful experience.
All in all, it's been a very fruitful experience. I've used it as a way to reach out to places in my community and have performed random acts of poetry at my local video store and at some of my favourite stores in my neighbourhood.
(cross-posted to my writing blog)
So as part of this campaign, I am distributing poetry books to random people. I go up to random people, read them a poem and then give them a book. (In case you are concerned, all the poets are financially compensated and the program buys 50 books for us to distribute).
Since it is a literacy program, participants are supposed to make visits in ESL and adult literacy classrooms. I will be going to read some poems and do some writing exercises with students at Grant MacEwan university tomorrow.
I have performed about 20 random acts of poetry so far. I started doing it in Vancouver and have since been doing it in my neighbourhood here in Edmonton. I was very nervous to approach people, and many people are surprised when they are approached, so I tell them that they don't have to buy anything from me, and then go into my spiel. I think people enjoy the random acts of poetry because it makes them feel special. I've had some interesting discussions with people. I got into one discussion with a woman who was of mixed ancestry. Some people are very thankful and honoured to be chosen. Many people worry about the financial consequences of the endeavour. One woman asked me if she could make a donation to me. (I refused it.)
One student and his friend were quite enthused and had me sit down at their cafe table so they could enjoy the reading. Then the recipient of the book gave me a hug :)
I also made one woman cry because she was so incredibly moved by the poem. It was a very powerful experience.
All in all, it's been a very fruitful experience. I've used it as a way to reach out to places in my community and have performed random acts of poetry at my local video store and at some of my favourite stores in my neighbourhood.
(cross-posted to my writing blog)
