WE LOVE HEARING FROM YOU EVERY WEEK – AND, WHILE WE MOST OFTEN GET TRADITIONAL LETTERS, EVERY NOW AND THEN…WE GET A POEM! MANY OF OUR VIEWERS FROM MARYLAND ELEMENTARY SEND US THEIR CREATIVE POETRY INSPIRED BY A STORY ON OUR SHOW. LIKE THIS ONE FROM MAYA, WHO WROTE ABOUT DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.:
HE NEVER RAISED A FIST
YET, HIS MESSAGE SENT WAS CLEAR
THAT ALL PEOPLE ARE EQUAL
AND WE FIGHT,
FIGHT, WITHOUT FEAR
HE ALWAYS PERSEVERED
HE SPOKE TO YOU AND ME
HE WALKED AND TALKED AND RALLIED
'TILL ALL PEOPLE WERE FREE
AS MAYA DEMONSTRATES, POETRY IS A KIND OF WRITING IN WHICH FEELINGS OR IDEAS ARE EXPRESSED WITH A RHYTHM. POET TERRENCE HAYES HAS ANOTHER WAY TO DESCRIBE IT, HE SAYS: “POEMS ARE A FORM OF MUSIC -- AND LANGUAGE JUST HAPPENS TO BE OUR INSTRUMENT.”
WELL, NOW IS THE PERFECT TIME TO TRY YOUR HAND AT THIS NEW KIND OF WRITING BECAUSE APRIL IS NATIONAL POETRY MONTH! THAT’S A MONTH DEDICATED TO CELEBRATING POETRY.
SO…LET ME GIVE IT A SHOT:
ROSES ARE RED, VIOLETS ARE BLUE,
UP NEXT, HERE’S A GREAT STORY ABOUT POETRY FOR YOU!
…OK, I WON’T QUIT MY DAY JOB…
(Alex Lewis/Founder of Car Window Poetry) "Personally, I believe words are the most powerful force on the planet."
WHICH IS EXACTLY WHY HE CREATED CAR WINDOW POETRY.
ONE WINDSHIELD AT A TIME...HIS POEMS ARE MAKING A SMALL, YET MEANINGFUL DIFFERENCE IN PEOPLE'S LIVES.
(Alex Lewis/Founder of Car Window Poetry) "Those words can be something that if you're hurting, they can give you hope. If you're starting to feel like your dreams don't matter, they can be the thing that breathes life into them."
LEWIS ISN'T THE ONLY ONE WITH A MESSAGE TO SHARE.
(Marissa Bruno/Student at University of Colorado, Colorado Springs) "Here is a little note to say I hope you have a wonderful day."
(Jonathan Smith/Student at University of Colorado, Colorado Springs) "Don't look at the blood, but share the love with everyone because we are one big family."
HE RECRUITS WRITERS FROM VARIOUS SCHOOLS TO HELP CRAFT THE TINY NOTES AND SAYS THE PERSPECTIVE BEHIND THE PEN IS WHAT MAKES THESE POEMS SO UNIQUE.
(Alex Lewis/Founder of Car Window Poetry) "Our perspectives matter, our stories matter and so -- you know -- not everybody has that perspective or that story. It's something that's unique to us. It's something that can speak to others and they're stories that people can see themselves in."
(Marissa Bruno/Student at University of Colorado, Colorado Springs) "I really think it's an amazing idea. It's such a little thing that can make such a big impact on someone's day."
(Jonathan Smith/Student at University of Colorado, Colorado Springs) " we're so spread apart and so divided right now that these little notes can really start to bring everyone together so that we can be on the same page."
THE POEMS DON'T HAVE TO BE LONG OR IN DEPTH...
ONLY A FEW SENTENCES WILL DO WHEN IT COMES TO CAR WINDOW POETRY.
(Alex Lewis/Founder of Car Window Poetry) "At the heart of it is sort of just this idea that words matter and they can encourage people and inspire people. And if we can get those out into the world, somehow, someway, then they can make a difference in somebody's life."
SO AS ALEX AND HIS GANG OF ROVING POETS SHOW US, POETRY CAN BE USED TO BRING JOY…EVEN WHEN YOU LEAST SUSPECT IT!
Instructional Links
Website: Car Window Poetry | Explains how to share poetry cards & start local group. Must register to download free cards