RANDOM ACTS OF POETRY DAY

RANDOM ACTS OF POETRY DAY

Imagine turning a corner on your daily walk and finding a haiku chalked on the sidewalk, or discovering a short verse tucked into a library book. These small, unexpected moments of beauty are the essence of Random Acts of Poetry Day, celebrated each year on the first Wednesday in October. This National Day is a day for everyone—not just seasoned poets—to share the power of words and sprinkle a little creativity into the world.

#RandomActsOfPoetryDay

It seems since the beginning of time, people throughout the world have been expressing themselves through poetry. Known for its distinctive style and rhythm, poetry offers a great way to express feelings and ideas. It’s a chance to create connection through a shared verse, spark emotion to capture joy, nostalgia, humor, and wonder. Random Acts of Poetry Day is the perfect excuse to find words for your own thoughts and feelings and share them with the world!

You don't need to be Shakespeare to participate! The beauty of this day is in the act of sharing, not in perfect composition. You can borrow from the greats, like Emily Dickinson or Robert Frost. You can try a simple form by writing down a thought or observation in a way that feels artful to you. Create the infamous three-line poem known as a Haiku with a 5, 7, 5 syllable structure. Other types of poems include:

1. Sonnet

2. Limerick

3. Ballad

4. Epitaph

5. Ode

Poetry doesn’t simply belong in books or on paper; it belongs everywhere. Share poems throughout the day and encourage others to enjoy a form of art that always makes someone smile.

HOW TO OBSERVE #RandomActsofPoetryDay

The idea of Random Acts of Poetry Day is to leave a poem somewhere randomly. Many people use chalk to do this. They take sidewalk chalk with them wherever they go and write a poem on the sidewalk. Celebrate the day by learning about the different kinds of poems. Take a shot a writing one. You might be a poet and not even know it! Share your favorite poem or an original poem on social media using the hashtag #RandomActsOfPoetryDay.

RANDOM ACTS OF POETRY DAY HISTORY

While its exact origins are unknown, Random Acts of Poetry Day has been sparking creativity on the first Wednesday of October since at least 2015. It continues to grow as a grassroots movement, reminding us that poetry doesn’t just belong in dusty books—it belongs everywhere.

DATES:
1 October 2025
7 October 2026
6 October 2027
4 October 2028
3 October 2029
2 October 2030