Poetry in Public—formerly known as Poetry on Buses—celebrates local voices in one of our most vital shared spaces: transit.
Every day, thousands of people use transit—to commute to work, visit family, go to school, and return home. It’s a unique public space, rich with stories. For a short while, all of us are moving in the same direction. Poetry in Public fills that space with poems written by the person across the aisle, that kid in the back, and the professional poet alike – everyone can be a poet!
Through a submission process open to all King County residents, poems selected by a panel consisting of local literary leaders were shared with the public on transit.
Thank you to everyone who participated in the most recent iteration of Poetry in Public by joining us for a workshop, sharing information with friends, and submitting a poem. Poems were featured on King County Metro buses, King County Parks trailheads,and Sound Transit light rail. Read and listen to selected poems on our website and via Soundcloud.
2023-2025 Theme: Places of Landing
Many of our transportation hubs, roads, docks, and recreational spaces exist directly over Indigenous places of landing. As our community grows and changes, new paths will arise. The concept of landings extends from the land itself to each person’s sense of being, and we all hold memories of the places that shape our days. View writing and thinking prompts created by 2023-2025 Poet Planner Laura Da' to engage with place, water, and season and to connect literacy and land with a sense of balance, agency, and regard of place.
Community Poetry Workshops
In Summer and Fall 2023, Poet Planner Laura Da’ and Community Liaisons hosted community poetry workshops across King County. The public was invited to connect with poets, find inspiration, and celebrate the written word in free workshops, with the intention of guiding participants toward writing a poem for submittal to the open call for poems held in Fall 2023.
Participants explored the theme Places of Landing with a focus on African American, Chinese, Filipino, Indigenous, Spanish-Speaking, and Youth communities at workshops held at local community centers as well as in virtual and hybrid spaces. In partnership with Sound Transit, a poetry workshop for the general public that included a variety of poetry prompts, tactile activities, and an opportunity to read on stage was held at the newly opened event space at the Angle Lake light rail station, The Roadhouse.
Celebrations of Place
In Summer and Fall 2024, Poetry in Public showcased poetry at free events around King County offering an opportunity for the public to connect with poets, find inspiration, and to celebrate the written word.
The poetry showcases were rooted in community, featuring selected poets alongside professional writers, and open mics brought spontaneity and personality to the mix. Readings celebrated poetry selected for placement on transit through the open call in Fall 2023. You may have seen these poems on your daily commutes, visits, or other trips around the county since they were installed on many King County Metro buses, King County Parks trailheads, and Sound Transit light rail.
Thank you to everyone who participated in workshops and events or found inspiration in the Places of Landing theme on the 4Culture website, via prompts to guide your poetry writing journey.
