People can celebrate the creativity and rhythm of poetry with a range of local activities next week.
Rotorua's annual poetry festivities open next week under the header Poetry Bomb, with National Poetry Day being Friday, August 24.
The Poetry in Windows project exhibits local poetry in shop and cafe windows, and was expanded last year to include giant poems attached to the construction fence surrounding Te Manawa.
Huge poems were also fixed to the exterior wall of McLeods Booksellers - featuring published poets Brian Potiki, Jeshel Forrester, and Keith Nunes - to make a Word Wall.
This year it will feature Nga Kupu o Nga Wāhine, honouring 125 years of suffrage.
Launching next Thursday at 5pm, people will be able to hear women read poetry at McLeods Booksellers as they make their way to the Rotorua Night Market.
The following day Rotorua's Mad Poets will be awarding prizes for their Humorous Poetry competition, alongside music and poetry performances at 'Rhythm and Rhyme' in the Pig 'n' Whistle from 6.30pm.
It has a gold coin entry.
The Arts Village manager Mary-Beth Acres says local woman Karin Vincent has organised for the village's cafe to host the David Merritt Experience - Poetry Brick.
This is a cluster of 23 individual poems assembled into a brick and then installed at the cafe from todayto next Saturday.
"Anyone is able to come and enjoy a poem, and they are encouraged to enjoy and share their experience.
"Rumour has it there may also be some poem sprouting in CBD parks and we encourage people to explore our creative precinct here in the Government Gardens to see what you discover."
Mary-Beth says poetry broadens minds, opens hearts, soothes, and awakens passion.
"We love that there are so many different styles and there is something for everyone.
"Rotorua has a huge amount of local talent involved in writing, reading and crafting poetry, and delivering these awesome events.
"Rotorua's literary arts scene is humming with so much on the go and Poetry Bomb is a great way to dip your toe or indulge your passion."
On Saturday August 25, from 4pm, published authors and poets Ian Rockel, Bob Orr, and Brian Potiki will perform at McLeods Booksellers with a koha entry.
Long-time Rotorua poet Nan Miller encourages people to get behind the events because poetry is important.
"Poetry is just as much the rhythm of life of life as music is."