The Picnic on Poetry project is going strong, with tables displayed in Toronto as well as in Cobourg
Image courtesy of Picnic on Poetry
By: Cecilia Nasmith, Northumberland 89.7 FM News
Cobourg
Wally Keeler appeared at Cobourg council Wednesday for an update on the year-old Picnic on Poetry project of etching poetry on the tops of wooden picnic tables to share this art form on an everyday basis.
In its first year, they saw 135 poems of every kind from 89 poets, and eight short stories from writers from the US, Canada and abroad.
With tables scattered in many Cobourg locations, Keeler said, they also had the chance to ship one of their tables to Toronto in September for Canada's largest literary festival.
“Word On The Street was thrilled by the notion of poetry on a picnic table in their food court," he stated.
That table remains in Toronto, in Dufferin Grove Park near the Children's Learning Centre.
Ideas for 2026 include tables developed by two former Cobourg poets laureate (Ted Amsden and Jessica Outram) and a Highway of Heroes table, based on the book by Pete Fisher.
