Young voices of Rain Poetry shine at State Library

By Karen Price

Since 2023, PA Humanities’ Rain Poetry project has been transforming sidewalks into stages for imagination, showcasing the creativity of young people, and demonstrating the power of the humanities to turn ordinary spaces into unexpected moments of connection, reflection, and joy. 

Starting in October, poems written by Rain Poetry participants from across Pennsylvania are part of a special installation outside the State Library in Harrisburg, thanks to our state representatives and senators. Everyone can now find a spark of joy and magic as they stroll down the sidewalk and read the poems – some of which are invisible until it rains!  

First Lady Lori Shapiro joined PA Humanities and some of the poets at the Capitol and State Library for the special reveal celebration on September 30.

“Reading, writing, and art are powerful tools to help our kids find their voices and express themselves, and most importantly, think critically about the world around them,” Shapiro said. “We need more of that work now more than ever. When it feels like people are so divided, certain things like the arts have a special way of bringing people together. It’s my hope that these sidewalk displays can do that for people walking by the State Library on a rainy day, and that they’ll be inspired to follow the example of these awesome kids and lead with curiosity and creativity.” 

PA Humanities piloted the Rain Poetry project in Philadelphia in 2023, and expanded it to Pittsburgh and Johnstown in 2024 and Reading in 2025. Partnering with afterschool programs, libraries and classrooms, teaching artists led workshops exploring the art of haiku and creative expression. The children and teens wrote their own poems, then local artists turned their words into public installations using specially designed vinyl decals and stencils. Just add water and the “invisible” poems stenciled underfoot appear like magic, turning the simple act of walking down the street into a shared experience of wonder and reflection. 

The State Library emerged as the perfect home for this next chapter of Rain Poetry. Working with the PA Department of General Services, PA Humanities installed the poems and hosted the celebration outside the newly renovated library – a fitting place to honor words and imagination.

Sue Banks, State Librarian of Pennsylvania, reflected on the deeper impact of the project.

“When young people see their words lifted up and celebrated in public spaces, it builds confidence, pride, and a deeper connection to learning,” Banks said. “Rain Poetry is a powerful reminder that literacy and the arts and humanities are essential to helping all learners of all ages find their voices and share them with the world.” 

Harrisburg artist Sharnee Burnett designed the colorful decals and the entire block-long installation, inspired by the young poets’ words. Her artistry ties together the themes of creativity, place, and identity, core to PA Humanities’ mission of building community through storytelling. The installation will last through early December, at which time the hydrophobic spray will fade and Burnett will remove the decals. 

The highlight of September’s reveal event were the seven students who traveled from Johnstown, Philadelphia and Reading to Harrisburg, accompanied by parents, siblings, grandparents, mentors and even one great-grandparent. The young people read their poems and helped to reveal the hidden poems using Rain Poetry watering cans, and after the event was over were treated to a private tour and lunch at the Capitol Building. Students from Johnstown were greeted by their State Representative, Frank Burns (D, District 72 serving parts of Cambria County).  

State Representative Joe Ciresi (D, District 146 serving parts of Montgomery County) took part in the celebration along with his colleagues Representative Joe Webster (D, District 150 serving parts of Montgomery County) and Lisa Borowski (D, District 168 serving parts of Delaware County).

“What you’re doing here today is the power of the pen to inspire other people,” Ciresi said. “As they walk, maybe they had a bad day, but they see something in the rain, (in the) poetry, and go, ‘Wow, that really brought me to another place.’ Or it gets them to think about what life is about, or humanity.”

The day also served as the official launch of the Rain Poetry Toolkit, a step-by-step guide for afterschool programs, teachers and leaders to do the project in their own communities. The toolkit provides guidance including how to design workshops, find the right partners, create the installations and celebrate the words and wisdom of young people with the community. 

It’s just the type of project that Governor Josh Shapiro’s administration is proud to support, Lori Shapiro said.

“PA Humanities does incredible work to create programs like this that encourage learning and literacy training outside of the classroom,” Shapiro said. “We want to see Rain Poetry beyond Philly, Johnstown, (Pittsburgh) and Reading because when we introduce kids to new ways to express themselves it helps them see the world around them in a different light and really think about experiences and cultures other than their own.” 

PA Humanities will be offering a number of grant opportunities to help communities launch their own Rain Poetry projects, generously funded by state legislators through the PA Department of Community and Economic Development’s Community and Economic Assistance Program. Applications are now open; find more information here.

The poems installed in Harrisburg were written by children and teens from across Pennsylvania who participated in Rain Poetry. We invite you to enjoy and reflect on their words below!

Growing, as a tree,
Stretching out my limbs and mind,
My heart to the world

• Aria Parlock, Johnstown

Look at all we’ve done
But the journey is never done
We have grown so far

• Molli Lazzari, Johnstown

The rain drops
Sweetens the day and
It makes rainbows

• Priya Wayns, Johnstown

Oh little child grow
Blue skies, white clouds, go and grow 
A child, moon, skies, nice 

• Malaiya Boyd, Philadelphia

The streets filled with art
Our minds filled with color
Hope starts in this place

• Annalise Sierra and Hadassa Perez, Reading

Small kids, younger minds
Bigger school, learning more
New things, on my own

• Isabella L. Johnstown
  
  

The birds sing their song
Acorns clink, plink on the ground
These sounds make me glad

• Tatum N, Johnstown

Fluffy Like Soft Clouds
Marshmallow Melting Sweetly
The Taste of Happiness   

• Emarion G, Pittsburgh
  
  

Moonlight and leaves show
The air is warm and humid
It’s shining and bright

• Zyanna J, Pittsburgh

The pig is lovely
The flower is big and bright
Pig hops on flower

• Da’lasia W, Zoey H, Emilia B, Pittsburgh
  
  

Protective and Earthy
And helpful tree shaped tunes
Healing Harmonies 

• Layla J, Pittsburgh

A Forest of life
The sounds of sirens calling
Silence in the Dark

• Arianna M-D, Pittsburgh
  
  

I see smoke rising
Flames reaching up to the sky
I need a burger

• Keyshay, Manny, Tyquan, Pittsburgh

What will the future bring?
Nobody will know till then
I hope it is nice

• Miko H, Pittsburgh
  
  

Nature is so great 
Makes me want to eat outside 
Just the worms and me 

• Kay G, Philadelphia

My lungs grow with breath
My brain grows with much knowledge
My heart grows with love

• Ivory H, Philadelphia
  
  

The flowers bloom around
They keep me growing strong bloom
Gracefully I’ll grow

• Faith, Philadelphia

I used to be weak 
I can do 14 push-ups 
I can stay humble

• Tristan H, Philadelphia
  
  

A seed to a tree, 
A seed grows into a tree, 
A tree stays planted here.

• Owen, Philadelphia

Peace is a blossom 
Flows like a shiny river 
And brings happiness 

• Yunus B, Philadelphia
  
  

Sun shines in the day
Sunsets in many colors
The sun sets at night

• Benjamin R, Dylan E, Reading

Tears from the sky fall
And illuminate my face
Smile bright, live with grace

• Ariella V, Reading
  
  

When the rain has stopped
And when the sun has appeared
Colors arc the sky!

• Adelle G, Reading

Nature is vibrant,
Just like the bright pagoda
Our city is like art

• Wozniaki B, Walleska Z, Reading

In addition to funding from the National Endowment for the Humanities and donations matched by the Federation of State Humanities Councils with support from the Mellon Foundation, PA Humanities has raised funds for Rain Poetry from these supporters throughout the state: the William Penn Foundation, the Pennsylvania Rural Arts Alliance, the Heinz Endowments, the Richard King Mellon Foundation, the Grable Foundation, the Wyomissing Foundation, with support from the Pennsylvania Department of Education, the Department of Community and Economic Development Community and Economic Assistance Program, and the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, administered by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the Commonwealth Financing Authority.