14 Words for Love: Write and Do Good by Jodi Barnes

Seven months ago, in early 2013, almost a thousand people posted 14-word poems during a social media event I began called 14 Words for Love.

I’d always thought that Valentine’s Day should be repurposed into something more generous: love for people we don’t know, people we might pass by and not see or choose to look the other way.

Within 16 days, more than 2500 poems were posted.

My husband and I worked furiously to capture each post and create files, available to anyone in the world. The intention was—and remains—to hand someone an original literary gift.

At the end of April, another 1600 14-word creations were written for Pen It Forward Day—a way to Pay It Forward.

One 14-word contributor created graphic “currency” on which to print individual poems. I got excited. Maybe this 14 Words for Love thing could turn more people on to writing while creating more kindness, empathy, understanding and respect for others.

As a former professor, I’d taught and done research in social group identity theory. I knew, for example, that most of us believe that we are more different than we actually are. But, racially, ethnically, age- and gender-wise, greater differences in what we value exist within a group (i.e., African Americans) than differences exist between groups (comparing African Americans and Native Americans, Whites, Hispanics or Asian Americans). But I also knew that people’s experiences with “others” along with faulty attribution are extremely powerful.

Ironically, as I searched for a website domain, I learned that “14 words” is an infamous motto for Arian hate groups. I knew right then that 14 Words should be reclaimed for love!

With a simple mission in mind, I’ve chosen three main events per year:

1. Valentine’s Day to celebrate loving kindness,
2. Pen It Forward Day (April) with a focus on charity, and
3. Peace One Day (Sept. 21) for mindfulness and peace.
4. I’m also considering a December project called Operation Card Drop for soldiers abroad.

The event coming up this month is Peace One Day on September 21, 2013. Plan on participating and invite your friends.

I think the cool things about 14 Words for Love are that:

• You don’t have to be a writer or qualify in any way to write a 14-word post.
• Writing a small poem or story takes just minutes. It’s easy and fun to do.
• 14 Words encourages an action that leads to a contribution. We’re not solving Syria’s problems or eradicating hate crimes, but we’re doing something. And in the doing, we’re thinking, reflecting on the kind of world we want to live in.

A 14-word poem won’t prevent war, but it could make someone’s day, possibly change someone’s perspective or shatter a stereotype.

Please join us! We’d love to read your 14-word creations. The sign-up is simple and 100% private. Once you have an account you can post as many times as you’d like; you can comment on others’ posts; and you can click on your account to see all the wonderful poems you’ve accumulated throughout the event.

Visit 14 Words for Love (http://14wordsforlove.com) and when you’re on Facebook, please like us: http://www.facebook.com/14wrds.4love

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Examples of 14 word poems

If you want to be
loved,
teach a child to draw
a paper heart.

Through it all
we take out the trash
and fill up the sugar bowl.

All ragtag and bobtail
We love like peasants
With what little we have

he is bleeding
cut to ribbons
from squeezing
through your narrow
definitions
of love

Peace invites Justice to its house,
knowing that scales can’t fit
through the door.

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Jodi Barnes is a poet, teacher and activist whose creative project – 14 Words for Love has caught on like High Fives at a celebration.

Find and follow Jodi on Twitter, #Jodi_Barnes 

Jodi Barnes on LinkedIn

14 Words for Love: http://14wordsforlove.com

14 Words for Love’s Facebook Community page:  https://www.facebook.com/14wrds.4love

 

Tags: community poetry, featured, literary activism, north carolina literary events

Category: Contemporary Women Writers, On Writing