Random Acts of Poetry

About Random Acts of Poetry

Every October, poets across Canada take to the streets and share their poems with strangers – at bus stops, in grocery stores, at the library, in coffee shops – anywhere and everywhere poetry can be heard. 

Random Acts of Poetry was started in 2003 by the Victoria READ Society and Victoria poet Wendy Morton.

“Poetry," Morton, has said, "is the shortest distance between two hearts. I have read poems to hundreds of people, many of whom hadn’t heard a poem in 30 years, and watched their eyes fill up with tears. Some burst into laughter or laid a hand on my shoulder, hugged me, took my hand. Poetry can connect us with each other as humans as no other art form I know. Poetry is a gift that we can create from whatever life has in store for us."

Each year, READ staff help coordinate the national event, with funding from the Canadian Council for the Arts and anonymous donors. In the past, poets from across Canada have shared the magic of the spoken word in places like Penetanguishe, Tay Township, Elmvale, Smokey Lake, Ganges, Midland, Montague, Ile Perrot, Ste. Anne de Bellevue, Bear Creek, Holland Landing and Wingham.

Random Acts of Poetry contributes to READ’s Education Access program, which provides funding so children and youth from low-income families can attend our child and youth programs.