Be a Planter
Everyone is welcome to be a Poetry Planter. You don’t need to sign up or pay or do anything special, but there are a few things you need to know and to keep in mind.
How to plant poetry
Step 1: Find a poem that you love, in any language.
Step 2: Write it on a piece of paper, using enviro-friendly stationery where possible. Include the name of the poet and title of the work, but not your name or contact details. Poetry Planting is an anonymous activity.
Step 3: Write the URL http://poetryplanting.weebly.com/ somewhere on the page, so your reader can learn more about this project (and maybe get involved!).
Step 4: Hide your poem somewhere unexpected, where someone will find it. There are some ideas here. If you want to, take a photo of your planting and share it on Instagram with the hashtag #poetryplanting. It'll then appear on this feed.
Step 5: Repeat these steps to your heart’s content!
How to be a good Planter
Respect your poet
Copy the poem accurately, and include its title and the name of the poet (and translator if relevant). If you’re planting an extract of a longer poem, write ‘Extract from [Title of Poem]’, so your reader knows they’re just getting a sample. Hopefully they love it as much as you do and track down the full work.
Respect your reader
Poetry often articulates the more difficult aspects and experiences of being human, which is partially why it’s so powerful. Sometimes this means it contains concepts or expressions which others may find offensive. If you feel a poem could cause serious offence because of the language used or themes explored, select another.
Poetry Planting supports freedom of expression, but poems which are derogatory towards others on the basis of race, gender, sexuality, religion, or anything else are not in keeping with the spirit of this project. Remember that you won’t know who your reader is - they may even be a child - and that the purpose of Poetry Planting is to give something wonderful to someone.
Be mindful of safety too. No one will develop a love of poetry if you leave sheets of paper on the ground and someone ends up with a broken leg.
Respect your fellow Planters
Poetry Planting has no motive other than to share poetry in unexpected (but nice!) ways. To ensure we can all be happy Planters, avoid planting in ways which could be viewed as spamming or harassment. You don’t want to end up with a restraining order because you keep stuffing someone's letterbox with Shakespeare’s sonnets.
If you are a poet, you’re welcome to plant your own poems, but keep in mind that Poetry Planting is not intended to be a marketing exercise for individuals.
Banner image by Tony Fischer: https://www.flickr.com/photos/tonythemisfit/
How to plant poetry
Step 1: Find a poem that you love, in any language.
Step 2: Write it on a piece of paper, using enviro-friendly stationery where possible. Include the name of the poet and title of the work, but not your name or contact details. Poetry Planting is an anonymous activity.
Step 3: Write the URL http://poetryplanting.weebly.com/ somewhere on the page, so your reader can learn more about this project (and maybe get involved!).
Step 4: Hide your poem somewhere unexpected, where someone will find it. There are some ideas here. If you want to, take a photo of your planting and share it on Instagram with the hashtag #poetryplanting. It'll then appear on this feed.
Step 5: Repeat these steps to your heart’s content!
How to be a good Planter
Respect your poet
Copy the poem accurately, and include its title and the name of the poet (and translator if relevant). If you’re planting an extract of a longer poem, write ‘Extract from [Title of Poem]’, so your reader knows they’re just getting a sample. Hopefully they love it as much as you do and track down the full work.
Respect your reader
Poetry often articulates the more difficult aspects and experiences of being human, which is partially why it’s so powerful. Sometimes this means it contains concepts or expressions which others may find offensive. If you feel a poem could cause serious offence because of the language used or themes explored, select another.
Poetry Planting supports freedom of expression, but poems which are derogatory towards others on the basis of race, gender, sexuality, religion, or anything else are not in keeping with the spirit of this project. Remember that you won’t know who your reader is - they may even be a child - and that the purpose of Poetry Planting is to give something wonderful to someone.
Be mindful of safety too. No one will develop a love of poetry if you leave sheets of paper on the ground and someone ends up with a broken leg.
Respect your fellow Planters
Poetry Planting has no motive other than to share poetry in unexpected (but nice!) ways. To ensure we can all be happy Planters, avoid planting in ways which could be viewed as spamming or harassment. You don’t want to end up with a restraining order because you keep stuffing someone's letterbox with Shakespeare’s sonnets.
If you are a poet, you’re welcome to plant your own poems, but keep in mind that Poetry Planting is not intended to be a marketing exercise for individuals.
Banner image by Tony Fischer: https://www.flickr.com/photos/tonythemisfit/