Key Biscayne residents are being invited to turn their love of the island into poetry as part of a community-wide creative effort tied to national poetry month.<\/p>\n
The Key Biscayne Poetry Share program, founded three years ago by resident Debbie Wanninkhof, is encouraging locals, from students, families, businesses and community groups, to participate in the annual \u201cZipOde\u201d contest organized by O, Miami, the area\u2019s largest poetry platform.<\/p>\n
Now in its 12th year, the ZipOde contest invites participants to write short, structured poems inspired by their ZIP code, in this case, 33149, highlighting what makes their community unique.<\/p>\n
\u201cA ZipOde is a fun, structured poem inspired by our ZIP code, perfect for capturing what makes Key Biscayne special,\u201d said Wanninkhof, who also said it\u2019s an opportunity to \u201ccelebrate our island\u2019s beauty, culture and community through your own poetic voice.\u201d<\/p>\n
Participants can draw inspiration from everyday life on the island, from its beaches and parks to the community center and personal experiences that reflect the spirit of Key Biscayne.<\/p>\n
The initiative is part of O, Miami\u2019s broader mission to ensure that \u201ceveryone experiences poetry\u201d during April. The organization\u2019s ZipOdes have been featured on WLRN and showcased at events such as the annual ZipOde Fest at Vizcaya.<\/p>\n
Locally, Wanninkhof says those interested in participating, can take advantage of in-person writing opportunities at the Key Biscayne Community Center, where she will be ready to help over the coming weeks. You can email Wanninkhof at debbiewpoetry@gmail.com<\/a> to find out her schedule.<\/p>\n