Bristol

Bristol poet Alan Summers took part in the BBC's Poetry Summer 2009 season

Residents in Bath and North East Somerset are joining together to create an innovative global poem.

The free project, led by Japanese poetry expert Alan Summers, is the first attempt in Europe to produce a 1,000 verse Renga.

Renga is an ancient form of traditional Japanese poetry and is a collaborative poem written by more than one person.

Alan Summers, from Bishopston in Bristol, took part in the BBC's Poetry Summer 2009 season.

As part of the programme, Mr Summers - with support from the council - will also be visiting local schools to get more people involved in the development of the poem and interested in poetry.

Although the poem has started in Bath, people from all over the world will be encouraged to take part.

On launching the Renga poem at Bath Central Library, Alan Summers said: "Libraries are a place of words, and as someone who promotes the love of words, what better place could I choose to launch this incredible type of poem, where the public write the poem, not the poet."

The verse needs to be only two or three lines and should be inspired in some way by the following:

"autumn leaves floating gracefully,
changing their colours,
like turncoats."

You can get involved either by speaking to a member of staff at your local library.

You can also send a text to the Council Connect text number 07797 806545, making sure you start the message with 'RENGA'.

Or send a verse by email to june_wentland@bathnes.gov.uk

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