I’m so excited about a new poetry post that was just installed in my yard yesterday. I first saw something like this last year when I was walking around Portland with my husband and daughter. It was a post with a display box, sort of like a home for sale sign but nicer. In the display box was a poem followed by a notice that each week the homeowner posts a new piece for the reading enjoyment of anyone walking by. I loved it and knew I wanted one in my own yard.

Now, I don’t spend a lot of time reading poetry, but in the past few years I have picked it up more often and I’m enjoying it when I do. There can be so much meaning in a few simple lines. I like the idea of a neighborhood poetry post, because it encourages people to take a rest while walking their dogs or while walking for exercise. I plan to change the poem on display weekly, and I’m taking suggestions for what to post.

I’d love to get your suggestions too. All I ask is that the poem be fairly short, so it can easily fit on one page in 18 pt. type. I plan to run all types of poems—funny, contemplative, written for children, geared toward nature, about relationships… When I can, as in when I have permission from the author or I’m displaying a poem no longer copyrighted, I’ll run the whole piece here.

This was a Mother’s Day present to me from my husband, and I feel like I’m going to have a lot of fun with it. Here’s a photo so you can see what the post looks like: