Ruminating Poet Press

My original idea for this project was just to try to sell my poetry among the art vendors who regulary set up in Savannah's Forsyth Park, especially on Saturdays, when the park is filled with people shopping at the year-round Farmers Market. However, when I inqauired about a license, I learned that the rules required that as conditions of a license were that you not advertise prices, and that you perform or demonstrate your art or craft as part of your exhibit.

After talking with my friend Beau Frail, I came up with the idea of actively promoting poetry. I had recently begun writing a number of haiku as a craft discipline to help me write more concisely and carefully, so I decided to promote poetry by creating materials to teach basic haiku, actually write haiku while sitting there, and selling my books as well. So, I got the license.

Things did not work out as I expected. Very few people offer to buy my books, but I have joined a community of artists and creatives of all types among the other vendors. I have frequent great conversations with people passing by. I get to watch the human parade in all sorts of light and weather. I have accumulated hundreds of haiku, and am sorting, weeding, and rearranging them to make my next book. And, slowly, more people are offering to buy my books.

As a lifelong introvert, I have been surprised at how much I have enjoyed learning how to engage people. Part of my job is to attract and entertain. I have jazzed up my table with little trash robot sculptures, making reference to my book Talking to the Machines, and have included a large garden sculpture of a brass dragon, whom I have named Erasmus, because who doesn't like dragons? (I have also learned to assure certain young people that I, soo, am SAD (Secretely A Dragon)). And, of course, I provide passersby with information on where and how to buy dragons and robots.

The best reward is when someone comes back to tell me how much they enjoyed a book, or, even better, a particular poem. The best pay a poet ever gets is when someone comes up to them and happily recites the poet's verses from memory.

I have stopped recording my Haiku in the Park days in the blog, except when I am going to be absent. They are regular, every Saturday, weather permitting (I have learned not to set out a display of paper when there is any hint of rain). The main variations are the decorations that Margo and I set out based on the season.

So, if you are in Savannah on some nice Saturday morning, come and tour the Artists Market. I am usually set up near the children's playgrounds. You will find all sorts of things to look at, people to watch, and a friendly atmosphere, and you may even find me, and we can talk about poetry.