On a rainy day in Reading, something unexpected now happens: sidewalks begin to whisper. Not in voices, but in verses—tiny reflections of joy, wonder, and pride written by the city’s youth. It’s all part of a public art initiative called Rain Poetry, a project that invites residents to discover haiku hidden in plain sight, revealed only when the ground turns wet.
Unveiled in mid-July with a celebration at the Reading Public Library’s Main Branch, the project brought together students, artists, librarians, and neighbors for an afternoon of creativity and connection. The stars of the day were the student poets themselves, who revealed their freshly installed work using special watering cans, delighting the crowd as their words came to life under streams of water.
The Rain Poetry initiative, led by PA Humanities in collaboration with the Reading Public Library, is more than a novelty—it’s a literary and civic experiment. Haiku created by local fourth and seventh graders, as well as young library patrons, now grace sidewalks throughout the city in English and Spanish, some visible only in the rain, others displayed as colorful decals. Each poem reflects the theme “The Colors of My City,” celebrating the vibrancy of Reading through the eyes of its youngest residents.
This project marks Reading as the fourth city in Pennsylvania to take part in Rain Poetry, following Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and Johnstown. But for lifelong city resident and Berks County Poet Laureate Adrian Perez-Roman, known as Apito, this version of the project carries particular weight.
“There can be a negative outlook on Reading,” Perez-Roman said, “but the kids highlight the positives. They’re showing you a different side that not everybody gets to see. Everything they brought out was all the beautiful things that they see around them, and that, to me, is so cool.”
That celebration of beauty is evident in lines like:
The streets filled with art
Our minds filled with color
Hope starts in this place
— Hadassa P, Annalise S, Grade 7, St. Peter’s School
Or this one, tying nature and local landmarks together:
Nature is vibrant
Just like the bright pagoda
Our city is like art
— Wozniaki B, Walleska Z, Grade 7, St. Peter’s School
Before their poems hit the pavement, students took part in a series of bilingual haiku workshops led by teaching artists and supported by library staff. For many, it was their first encounter with poetry—and their enthusiasm was palpable.
“I like that poetry can be anything. I could be creative,” one student shared. Another described the day as simply: “Best day ever.”
For PA Humanities, that reaction is part of the magic. “Not only do the invisible poems appear seemingly out of nowhere when it rains,” said Dawn Frisby Byers, senior director of content and engagement, “but they draw out previously invisible experiences and create moments of unexpected communication.”
More installations are planned at the Northeast Branch Library and Lauer’s Park Elementary this summer and fall. Later in the season, all of the participating students will see their haiku compiled in a professionally designed book—a lasting tribute to the power of young voices and public art.
For now, however, all it takes is a little rain to bring their voices to life—turning ordinary sidewalks into spaces of wonder, and rainy afternoons into opportunities for rediscovery.
Learn more about the project at pahumanities.org.
