Poets in the Wild

Poets in the Wild, a public engagement initiative spearheaded by Los Angeles Poet Laureate Brian Sonia-Wallace, is bringing the literary arts into dialogue with conservation and ecology. Designed to spark unexpected creative encounters, the one-day gathering invites visitors to look at the natural world through a lyrical lens while exploring the Zoo grounds.

From 10:00 am to 1:00 pm, several interactive pop-up stations will activate throughout the Zoo:

• Custom Vintage Typewriter Poetry: Poets equipped with classic manual typewriters will compose personalized, one-of-a-kind poems for visitors to take home.
  
• Hands-On Haiku Stations: Guests of all ages can try their hand at the five-seven-five format, penning their own verse with prompts celebrating native flora and fauna.
  
• Roving Literary Encounters: Writers will engage passersby, encouraging observers to slow down, notice ecological details, and articulate their connection to the natural world.
  

The celebration culminates at 2:00 pm with a group reading in the Children’s Zoo Theater.