By Joy Harjo

Remember the sky that you were born under,
know each of the star’s stories.
Remember the moon, know who she is.
Remember the sun’s birth at dawn, that is the
strongest point of time. Remember sundown
and the giving away to night.
Remember your birth, how your mother struggled
to give you form and breath. You are evidence of
her life, and her mother’s, and hers.
Remember your father. He is your life, also.
Remember the earth whose skin you are:
red earth, black earth, yellow earth, white earth
brown earth, we are earth.
Remember the plants, trees, animal life who all have their
tribes, their families, their histories, too. Talk to them,
listen to them. They are alive poems.
Remember the wind. Remember her voice. She knows the
origin of this universe.
Remember you are all people and all people
are you.
Remember you are this universe and this
universe is you.
Remember all is in motion, is growing, is you.
Remember language comes from this.
Remember the dance language is, that life is.
Remember.

The poetry box is all about the free expression of poetry and sharing it with others. If you would like a box (or the blueprints for one) or know someone who would, just click on the button below and visit my ETSY shop to get yours.                                        

My Etsy Store

#RedBrickPoetryBox10

I am awaiting the finishing touches from my artist on #RedBrickPoetryBox10– a children’s poetry themed box. I had a place to install it (an elementary school) but now that has been changed and right now I’m looking for an appropriate venue. Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh occurred to me and I might explore it.
It will have Shel Silverstein artwork and so much more when finished!

I realize events have slowed since Covid. But they also slowed once I started the job I do. It is not a creative job and as such has kind of sucked a lot of my creative energy away toward itself like a black hole. I am hoping this year to reignite the fire that began this project.

Although this isn’t a terribly expensive operation it does cost some money. Things like paper, printer ink and materials for events add up over time. If you would like to make a contribution through PayPal to help keep the poetry box and events going, or to sponsor a box for your organization, please click on the button below.

 I believe in the power of poetry and well-crafted words. Red Brick Poetry seeks to daily connect people with power of poetry.

 I do this mainly through my unique poetry box outside my home in Crafton. I fill it weekly with free loose-leaf poems and books. By offering poetry in this inviting and non-academic way, folks feel more open to reading it and experiencing it. This box is #RedBrickPoetryBox1

In addition  I have other boxes out in the world: #RedBrickPoetryBox2 at the Crafton Library #RedBrickPoetryBox3 at Carnegie Coffee Company #RedBrickPoetryBox6 at The Poe Museum in Richmond in the reading room                                              #RedBrickPoetryBox7 the Dickinson Museum.                             #RedBrickPoetryBox8 at the Robert Frost Stone House Museum
#RedBrickPoetryBox9 at D&O Wine Cellars in Crafton

I welcome others to buy or build a box and share poetry where they are.
I also do outreach events where I provide activities for adults and children along with free poems in a travel poetry box. I  always have an envelope of poems for when I travel to leave on tables and in cafes and so on. In addition poetry readings were just another thing I organized here in Crafton to connect folks to verse. I am hoping to begin those again.  I am always open to more ways too!

Red Brick Poetry– building a love of poetry from the ground up.

If you would like to reach me, either message me on Facebook (links on social icons) or email me:

season@redbrickpoetry.com