Thom the World Poet - 'Words onthe Street'

Word on the Street

You are given the freedom of the city -

You are to encourage the public enactment of poetry

This year - in chalk - on footpaths - the Promenade

Every citizen will be invited to PARTICIPATION

So you curl new poems in a snake charm

And you chalk your CHELTENHAM INVOCATION

Then you notice people smiling

And your dreams all merge with theirs

Next the juggler and, town crier - and every village citizen

Participate because they feel at ease

With public expressions of poetry

Soon, the Promenade is covered with coloured chalk

And nothing has been sold,
nor bought

Just fluid flow beyond all we know

Which goes to show

We are all poets…

(Written in celebration of Cheltenham Festival of Literature’s ‘Words on the Street’ voices off event, October 2004)

Words © Thom the World Poet
Pictures © Chris Cundy

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