Village Alliance & Poetry Society of America Celebrate National Poetry Month in April
This April, poetry takes center stage in Greenwich Village as the Village Alliance and the Poetry Society of America come together to celebrate National Poetry Month with a unique installation at Ruth Wittenberg Triangle. Six tabletops in the public plaza at 8th Street and 6th Avenue now bear the words of poets with deep ties to the neighborhood, inviting passersby to pause, read, and reflect.
Village Alliance & Poetry Society of America Celebrate National Poetry Month in April
This April, poetry takes center stage in Greenwich Village as the Village Alliance and the Poetry Society of America come together to celebrate National Poetry Month with a unique installation at Ruth Wittenberg Triangle. Six tabletops in the public plaza at 8th Street and 6th Avenue now bear the words of poets with deep ties to the neighborhood, inviting passersby to pause, read, and reflect.
The immersive installation brings Village residents and visitors face-to-face with poetry.
The featured poets—Aracelis Girmay, Hettie Jones, Audre Lorde, Donna Masini, Matthew Rohrer, and Sonia Sanchez—each bring a distinct voice to the installation. Visitors can immerse themselves in works such as “Therapy” by Audre Lorde, “short poem: at midnite” by Sonia Sanchez, and “Ars Poetrica” by Aracelis Girmay, displayed prominently on public seating in view of the Jefferson Market Garden and Jefferson Market Library.
“Public spaces are canvases for creativity,” said Scott Hobbs, Executive Director of the Village Alliance. “By weaving poetry into the fabric of Greenwich Village, we’re not just celebrating National Poetry Month—we’re rekindling the spirit of expression that has long defined this community. Poetry is a mirror to our shared humanity, offering moments of joy, reflection, and connection.”
This installation is part of the Village Alliance’s Art in Plazas program, which launched in 2024 in partnership with Greenwich House. The initiative brings vibrant, community-driven artwork into public spaces across the district. Last summer, the program showcased artwork by older adults in Astor Place through a collaboration with Greenwich House’s Older Adult Network. This year, the program continues to evolve, with a current art competition inviting local students to create a new public art installation in Astor Place later this spring.
Passersby can sit, unwind, and appreciate the installation this Poetry Month.
The installation aligns with the City of New York’s broader vision for public spaces. “Our streets and plazas should reflect the soul of our neighborhoods. By filling Ruth Wittenberg Triangle with poetry, we’re turning infrastructure into a stage for imagination and connection,” said Ya-Ting Liu, the City of New York’s Chief Public Realm Officer.
“Greenwich Village is renowned as a home for poets and poetry,” said Matt Brogan, Executive Director of the Poetry Society of America. “So what better place to make poems part of everyday life. We hope these poems will surprise and delight residents and visitors alike, as they pause in their busy lives in this urban oasis.”
Throughout April, make sure to stop by Ruth Wittenberg Triangle, take in the poetry, and experience a moment of literary inspiration in one of the city’s most historic and creative neighborhoods. National Poetry Month is a time for celebrating words, and in Greenwich Village, those words now have a home in the heart of the community.
One of the featured poems by Donna Masini.
