At noon on March 21, 2003, tinywords publisher and chief haikuvangelist D. F. Tweney descended upon the citizens in Yerba Buena Gardens, San Francisco, with a spontaneous recitation of haiku from around the world, in honor of World Poetry Day and the first day of Spring. Aided by WiFi, Internet, and SMS technologies, Tweney recited nearly 50 haiku contributed to tinywords.com by poets as far as Brisbane, Australia; Chennai, India; Trinidad; Ireland; and New Jersey. As helicopters thundered overhead, sirens wailed in the distance, and the bells of St. Patrick's Church tintinnabulated behind him, Tweney read about dogwood blossoms, robins, dogs, war, TV newscasters, clouds, hawks, joy, and plaid pants.

Shortly thereafter, all haiku contributed to the event on tinywords.com (now totaling more than 55 individual haiku) were delivered via email to a crowd of "virtual audience members" around the world.

"At a time when so many are focused on the technologies of destruction, it's important to realize the ways in which technology can be used to spread art, beauty, and understanding," said Tweney. "Plus, haiku are just a lot of fun!"




tinywords publisher D. F. Tweney (in red shoes), reading haiku in Yerba Buena Gardens. Looking on is tinywords subscriber Alex D (right), winner of a tinywords T-shirt. (Photos by Lydia Lee)

tinywords.com thanks Lydia Lee for logistical help (and for handing out postcards to total strangers throughout Yerba Buena Gardens).

the original invitation to world poetry day