Poetry Friday--Something New Every Day

I get lots of email from Pinterest inviting me to explore other peoples' boards on topics we share an interest in. One of those emails led me to poetry board, that led me to an Albuquerque Journal article from last spring. The article tells the story of a calligrapher, Kathy Chilton. Kathy would staple little poems to a telephone pole that stood outside her home. For Christmas 2014, Chilton's husband made her a poetry box. In the wooden box are poetry books and a pen and blank pieces of paper.

"It’s amazing to me how many people have left poetry in the box," she says. "There is something new every day."

Chilton, and her husband, are on a mission to share poetry and her neighbors are responding!

I'm sure you've all seen the news stories about the "Little Free Library" movement where people take a book and/or leave a book to share. Of course, like every good and generous movement that comes along, there are its detractors. Some municipalities have even taken to banning the free libraries due to "zoning laws" and what have you. I believe the good that comes of such an idea far surpasses any negativity. The Library of Congress awarded Little Free Library its Literacy Award: Best Practices 2015, for "outstanding work in the field of literacy." So there, you naysayers!

We can hope that the poetry box idea grows, too! So many avenues for people to explore!

Courtesy Wikimedia Commons.

It's funny how related things suddenly seem to find their way into our consciousness at the same moment. The article above I found on the same day as I found a quote by William Butler Yeats, which "spoke" to me. Inspired by the poetry box and the quote, I wrote this:

A Perfectly Made Box

A poem makes a sound when it is finished like the click of the lid of a perfectly made box. William Butler Yeats

Perfectly aligned hinges
do not bind.
Its finish is oiled
and polished.
Its scent is reminiscent
of a forest.
It wears the label "art."

It is only when a box
is well used
and showing signs
of wear that
the crisp metallic click
reminds us of
the passion in its making.

© Diane Mayr, all rights reserved.

I recommend that you now head down south where Keri Recommends is hosting this week's Round-Up!