Changing the World – One Poem at a Time
Having been graciously selected by the members of The Aiken Poets to serve as Poet Laureate, I wondered what I could do to make people more excited about poetry and to make poetry better appreciated, noticed, read, memorized, written, and shared.
Then I came up with this idea I call Pocket Poetry — a few lines in rhyme or free verse, written in calligraphy on white or colored cards, and distributed at random to people I meet. They go to people I know, people who provide a service, like the cashiers at the supermarket, the teller at the bank, the postal carrier, the newspaper carrier, friends at church, someone behind me in line, or just someone who looks as if he or she needs a friend or a kind word.
Some of the responses I’ve gotten include:
- “How thoughtful — thank you.”
- “You made my day.”
- “I needed this today.”
- “This is so special; may I pass it on to someone who would enjoy this?”
The most frequent comment I receive is “This is lovely. Did you write this?” Most often they are referring to the handwriting and not the actual words — they are so pleasantly surprised in this day and age to see handwritten words in cursive. We often measure a gift by its wrapping rather than by its contents.
Many have asked if I would sign the card — they wanted to have a name with the card. People wanted to know who did the calligraphy and who is distributing the card. One person to whom I have given several cards told me that she is putting them in a scrapbook for her granddaughter. Others tell me they have posted them on their refrigerators, recalling pleasant, inspirational words that lift one’s heart, mind, and spirit every time they pass by. I have seen them posted on computer screens at the bank and taped to a shelf at the nurse’s station in the doctor’s office.
I maintain a card file based on holidays and general topics which I can use as the situation arises, and I keep adding to the file as I keep writing. I am pleased to be an instrument in bringing joy to someone’s life, to make someone’s day brighter and happier. The card means someone noticed you. You are special. It’s also a way of saying, “Thank you for your service during these difficult times.” The poem below says it all. My goal is simply to change the world for the better, one poem, one person at a time.
Pocket Poetry
Just simple thoughtful poetic phrases
Written in calligraphy on colored cards.
Distributed at random and
Proving how powerful poetry can be.
The cards bring a smile to the recipient’s face
An element of surprise to be so noted.
Eyes scan the words
A smile appears —
Then a “Thank you,”
or some similar phrase —
“I needed this today.”
“You’ve made my day!”
“How thoughtful and sweet.”
“Did you write this?”
(Usually referring to the calligraphy!)
Now two people are happy
One in sharing
The other in receiving.
I bask in the joy of creating and sharing.
It takes a few minutes to create
but joyful sharing is the poet’s reward,
Therapy for the poet!
Just simple proof that
Poetry is a Gift
That was meant to be shared.
Joan M. Lacombe
Aiken’s Poet Laureate
September 2020
