April is National Poetry Month, and in Nashville (along with other cities like Los Angeles, Chicago, Philadelphia and Washington, D.C.) that means Poetry in Motion ®.
For the eighth year running, Metro Arts has partnered with WeGo Transit, Southern Word and The Porch Writers’ Collective to infuse Nashville’s public transit with poetry. This year’s celebration looks a little different because of social distancing and safety recommendations, but we're still sharing the power of poems with Nashvillians.
Southern Word engaged students in a poetry contest centered on the theme “A 2020 Vision of Nashville,” while The Porch Writers’ Collective commissioned poetry from adult Nashville writers.
Winning and commissioned poems will be featured on the wrapped exterior and the interior advertising placards of the WeGo “Poetry Bus” - snap a photo and tag us if you spot the Poetry Bus in the wild! WeGo has also created a commemorative brochure featuring all of the 2020 poems.
Southern Word has moved their Cyphers--live, spoken-word poetry/rap/DJ performances traditionally held at WeGo Central, online to provide poetry to Nashvillians staying “safer at home.” Save the date for the Cyphers below!
What’s more, The Porch has compiled all of this year’s featured poems in a zine, “Next Stop: Spring,” available online and in print on some WeGo buses. View the zine and immerse yourself in local poetry now!
Follow @MetroArtsNash on social media and check back here for updates on Poetry in Motion 2020.
Adult Poets commissioned by The Porch
Prince Bush, “Transit” and “Commute”
Joe Nolan, two untitled poems
Drenusha Kolbi, “Morning Commute” and “Box of Breath”
A.M. Ringwalt, “I Move Forward” and “Here: A Stranger Sings”
Student poet winners of Southern Word’s poetry contest
LaVontea Crowder, Pearl-Cohn Entertainment Magnet High School
Isa Cruz, Hume-Fogg Academic Magnet High School
Geralaniqa Edmondson, John Early Museum Magnet Middle School
Joyceonna Goodner, Pearl-Cohn Entertainment Magnet High School
Ephie Hauck, John Overton High School
Arlo Neel, Nashville Big Picture High School
Iman Omer, Martin Luther King, Jr. Academic Magnet High School
Rachel Sapir, Martin Luther King, Jr. Academic Magnet High School
Travisha Simmons, Pearl-Cohn Entertainment Magnet High School
Alora Young, Hillsboro High School