What is a Poetry Box? Also called a poetry pole or poetry post, it is a place to display poetry in public. In Portland there are hundreds of Poetry Boxes where you can read a poem on your walk through a neighborhood. Some have copies for you to take. Some have places for you to drop off a poem or comments. All have poems for you to read. Think of it as a virtual poetry journal incarnated into land
scape. Whose poetry can I display? Anybody’s poems you wish. Display those in the public domain (Shakespeare, Dickinson, etc.), display those poets and journals that have given blanket permission to Poetry Boxes and display your own poems right away. When displaying other poets it is courteous to contact them to request permission. This has invariably been a great way to converse with the poets and get back story and suggestions while being respectful of their copy rights. Which poems are best for Poetry Boxes? Far be for me to tell you which poems to display but I do have some suggestions. Hateful, lewd, explicit, or inappropriate poetry isn't a good idea. Poems that are brief and can be displayed in at least 14 point font work well for most Poetry Boxes. Themes of nature, neighbors, walking, contemplation often pop up in the poems I choose. Poems you enjoy and that speak to you, don’t be worried about displaying “good” poetry. Look to your favorite literary journals and editors to steer you toward wonderful poems. Where can I purchase a Poetry Box? While there are no mass distributors of Poetry Boxes there are several crafts people who will custom make one for you. However, don’t let that slow you down. Buy a real estate flyer box at your local hardware store and put out front on a post or a fence or tree and get started. How often do I change the poem? Whenever! If you do it on a regular scheduled day you will have more chance to build a pedestrian poet following. People do it once a month every other week or every week. I try to have some back up poems ready so if I don't come across a particularly sharable poem I can still change it up.
