I didn't know what to expect -- but after last night, I'm an expert on the subject of "Poem Dropping."
Q: What is a poem drop?
A: It's a time in your life where, for a set number of hours, you get to do the world a massive and beautiful favour by handing out free poems on the street to unsuspecting passers-by.
Ours went down like this: the first Friday of each month, the city of Philadelphia keeps its promise and opens all of its down-town art galleries to the public free of charge. As if this event weren't enough of a public service to all of those in need of some rich culture, we (a few from the editorial staff of the Wissahickon: a journal of arts & ideas) decided to increase the service by dropping some poems in Olde City during all the hubbub of First Friday.
In executing this Poem Drop (which was simply splendid, by the way), I learned some lessons about the human race that I would like to share with you.
Lesson #1: Some morons say "no" when asked the question "Would you like a Poem?"
This truly stunned me. I mean, I'm all cute and smiley, doing the people a favour, and they say "no" to a free poem? Do they know what they're missing? The paper is not going to explode in their hands or hypnotize them. It's a half-sheet of paper with four great poems on it. Why are they denying themselves this invaluable pleasure?
Lesson #2: There's one perfect answer to the question "Would you like a Poem?"
One man said this perfect answer to me last night. And this is what he said: "Who the f--k wouldn't want a poem?" That's exactly what I want to know. Thank you, sir. Wherever you are.
Lesson #3: The only think more fun than blessing the public with free poems on First Friday...
...is when they guy sitting on the corner nearest you is playing "Help Me, Ronda" on the accordion.
A good time was had by all. We breathed the warm evening air. We wore our dotted line shirts. We gave the people poems. Then we drank some beer and listened to some good music at the World Cafe to celebrate. Mission accomplished.
PS: Click here if you'd like to download the sheet of poems we passed out.
(Go ahead. Treat yourself to some free poems. You deserve it.)
