Shared Language Poetry Project

Born of a desire to show the similarities and differences among Oklahoma City residents, the Shared Language Poetry Project invites people of all ages to create poetry that is unified by shared words. Using a given list, participants will create poems using each of the preselected words to create poems illuminating an individual or group's experiences in the community or commemorating Ralph Ellison Library's presence in the neighborhood. The purpose of the poetry project is to demonstrate the idea our individual, singular stories of triumph or struggle can come together to weave a rich tapestry of radically divergent experiences found within our service area.

Word lists and guidelines are available online and at Ralph Ellison beginning Oct. 1. Poems are due on Oct. 31, and a select few poems will be featured in a special Ralph Ellison Centennial zine in December. For guidelines and the word list, please see the attached.

This event is in commemoration of the centennial of the Metropolitan Library System's first branch, the Ralph Ellison Library, formerly the Paul Laurence Dunbar Branch Library. This year we celebrate 100 years of service to our community, which has seen its library grow and adapt through five locations throughout the century.