Poems To Go: Random Act Of Art Hits Library

It’s a random act of art; a clandestine operation of guerilla beauty. 

The “Take One, Leave One,’’ poetry box planted just outside the Freehold Public Library just showed up one day in early April, stuck in among the greenery on the walkway to the front door, Kathy Mulholland, librarian, said.

It seemed appropriate timing, Mulholland said. April is National Poetry Month, after all.

The poetry box a mailbox, of sorts, but far more welcoming. No bills inside, either.

Painted white and decorated with birds and flowers, inside the box are several poems, long and short, written on scrap paper and not all written in the same handwriting.

Mulholland said knows who is responsible, but she isn’t telling.

“It’s someone who prefers to remain anonymous,’’ Mulholland said. “But they’ve done things like put popsicle sticks in the flower pots around town painted with little smiley faces, or decorated shells in red, white and blue and placed them around trees – various things around town to make it more interesting.’’