Poetry in motion
On January 11, 2025, I had the pleasure of leading a workshop with an incredible group of enthusiastic volunteers in Rollegem. Together, we brought Helena Deleu’s poetic vision to life, transforming the windows of the Kortrijk Library in Rollegem into luminous canvases for her words as part of the Weesgedichten project.
There’s something magical about this initiative. Rollegem has truly embraced its title as a poëziedorp for Poëzieweek. From January 30 to February 5, the village will be adorned with 30 windows featuring poetry—a walking and cycling route of inspiration for anyone who passes by.
During the workshop, we began by reading Helena’s poem together, letting the words settle into our minds and spark ideas. We explored its imagery: bustling markets, golden autumns, and dreams with wings. Then, we divided the verses among participants, who worked creatively to translate the text into visual storytelling.
To keep things spontaneous, I introduced playful assignments to tap into our creativity. We experimented with how to balance text and imagery, used contrasting tools to highlight key phrases, and discovered the joy of letting words dance across library’s glass windows.
What inspires me most is the energy these volunteers carry forward. They’re not stopping with the library windows—they’re continuing to bring poetry into the streets, encouraging passersby to pause, reflect, and feel the magic of language.
A heartfelt thank you to Vincent Coomans, Lieselot Maerten, and everyone involved for trusting me with this meaningful project. I’m so grateful for this experience and can’t wait to see what the Weesgedichten project will bring next. ✨ Let the words take flight. ✨
