If you think the rain just brings water and dreariness, think again. Sometimes, the rain can bring unexpected things that can't be seen when the sun is shining.
That's the case in Boston, where the sidewalks bloom with poetry when, and only when, they get wet.
The unusual, literary street art is part of an ongoing project by Mass Poetry, a nonprofit community of poetry writers and readers, and the Boston Mayor's Office.
The idea is to bring a little bit of creativity and unexpected art to the city, because it's amazing how much a little artwork can breathe new life into any neighborhood.
The poems are spray-painted onto the sidewalks using cardboard stencils with a clear liquid that repels water. That means that when the sidewalk is dry, the poems are invisible.
But when the sidewalk's concrete is darkened by water, the letters remain light, and become legible. And fittingly, the poems are all water-themed.
The four poems were chosen by Boston's Poet Laureate, Danielle Georges. Georges chose poems by Langston Hughes, Elizabeth McKim, Barbara Helfgott Hyett, and Gary Duehr, all poets who influenced the city's literary scene.
Check them out below, and the next time it rains, keep your eyes open for surprises!
[H/T: My Modern Met]
This looks like an ordinary sidewalk, and it is — except it's hiding a little secret that only appears when the rain starts to fall.
When the concrete becomes wet, a poem appears as if by magic. This poem is "Still Here" by Langston Hughes.
When the water dries and the concrete lightens, the letters will be invisible once again.
The poems are made by stenciling out the words in cardboard, and then spraying on a water-repellent but colorless paint that prevents the concrete from darkening from moisture.
The paint is biodegradable and eco-friendly, so the poems won't last forever, but they'll last long enough to be read by Bostonians as they walk head-down in the rain.
The poems were installed in Boston's downtown area by the Mayor's Mural Crew, a youth group sponsored by the city.
Mass Poetry wants to bring poetry out into public and make it accessible to everyone, and they plan to expand the project to other areas of the city, too.
Danielle Georges, Boston's Poet Laureate, says that poems are "meant for everyone," and she says that this is a perfect way to "bring poetry to the people."
Each stencil was also created by a Boston artist, so all the lettering is unique and full of personality!
The installation also has reverse stencils where the letters are dark against the lighter concrete.
And naturally, all of the poems chosen have water as their theme. It's only fitting, after all!
Watch the video below to see the poetry reveal in action!
You can check out more of Mass Poetry's projects on their website and Facebook page, and stay up to date on which areas of the city they're poetry-fying next! And if you're in Boston, look down the next time it rains!
And if you're not in Boston, you can spread some poetry love anyway by SHARING this cool project!
