Poetry

How about putting together a poetry reading? Do you have any other friends, know of any clubs, or other people that write poetry? We could make up some posters to solicit poets on campus to get involved if you would like.

You could try to hold it at your student union or coffee shop.

Give the guideline that all poems submitted must be relevant to missions, social justice, human need or the Love Maputo Project specifically  and submitted ahead of time for review (to weed out poems that are too obscene and to get an idea of when to place whom thematically).

It’s also a good idea to make a booklet with all the poems that will be read that night in it, a bio and picture of all of the poets, and information on the Love Maputo Project . You can sell these for $1 or so to raise funds. Keep it cheap.

Remember to set out a donation jar (as always) and a table with information on the Love Maputo Project, and maybe a computer showing the mini documentary on loop. We could get you the posters and pamphlets.  You could sell the booklet there too.

Nothing goes better with poetry than coffee, hot tea and goodies. Be sure to arrange to have coffee, tea and baked goods sold throughout the evening. You can arrange for this with your student union, cafeteria, school, local coffee shop or just bake the items yourself or try and get donations from a local bakery. Profit from this can be put towards the meeting the needs of the kids being reached by the Love Maputo Project. Make sure to advertise what the money is being raised for as well. People will be even more willing to buy coffee and cookies if they can justify it as being for a good cause.

Be sure to advertise for this event within your English Department and Poetry Clubs as well as on campus and in chapels about a month in advance to give people time to prepare. If you snap some pictures of the event, get some quotes, or even video clips, we might put it on here as an activism story to fire up more people to use their poetry for God.

"Weary eyes burn anew in the night,
prayers for peace become Your restless lullaby,
and faith, through struggle, is defined..."
- Gethsemane*

Do Something with your Poetry!

Your words can touch people, inspire them towards action, open their eyes to what's going on in the world.

Share your heart and share your poetry. Find out what God can do through the willing.  Speak up and speak out.

      
               

* This poem is lent for use of JESUSpolitik in this specified context only - written & copyrighted property of Melissa Davis. Do not use in full or part without written authorization from Melissa Davis.