Poetic Harvesting
Live Event Poetry
Transform your workshops, conferences, and community gatherings with real-time poetry that captures both the facts and feelings of your collective experience.
What is Poetic Harvesting?
Poetic harvesting is the practice of listening to a group gathering - whether it’s a workshop, conference, community meeting, or strategic session - and creating a rhyming spoken word poem in real-time that reflects the content, energy, and collective wisdom of the group.
I join your event (in-person or virtual), take notes not just on what’s being said but on the emotional landscape of the room, and deliver a 3-5 minute poem that gives your group a chance to see themselves reflected back in a new way.
How It Works
Before: We discuss your event goals, themes, and what you hope participants will take away. I learn about your community and context.
During: I listen deeply - not just to the content being shared, but to the energy in the room, the connections being made, the hopes and challenges surfacing.
After: I deliver a rhyming spoken word poem (typically 3-5 minutes) that weaves together the key themes, insights, and feelings from your gathering. You receive both a live performance and a written version.
Why Poetic Harvesting?
- Memory and meaning: Poetry helps people remember and internalize key insights from your event
- Emotional connection: Captures not just what happened, but how it felt to be part of the experience
- Community building: Gives groups a shared story and language about their work together
- Accessibility: Makes complex ideas more approachable through rhythm, rhyme, and metaphor
- Celebration: Honors the work your community is doing and the courage it takes to gather with intention
Previous Work
”Community Voices Rising”
Manchester Community Workshop on Neighborhood Resilience
60 participants exploring how to build stronger, more connected neighborhoods. The resulting poem wove together themes of mutual aid, shared resources, and the courage to reach across difference.
“Heenal captured not just what we discussed, but how it felt to be in community together. People were still quoting lines from the poem weeks later.” - Sarah Martinez, Workshop Organizer
”Systems in Motion”
Tech Conference Keynote on Blockchain for Social Good
A conference session on using decentralized technology for community empowerment. The poem translated complex technical concepts into accessible language about power, trust, and collective action.
“The poem made blockchain feel human. It connected our technical work to the real communities we’re trying to serve.” - Dr. James Chen, Keynote Speaker
”Weaving Justice”
Nonprofit Strategy Retreat
Two-day strategic planning session for a racial justice organization. The harvest poem became a touchstone for the organization’s new strategic direction.
“Having our vision and values reflected back to us in poetry was incredibly powerful. It helped us remember why we do this work.” - Maria Rodriguez, Executive Director
Investment
Workshop or Meeting (up to 2 hours): £500
- Includes pre-event consultation
- Live poetry delivery
- Written version of the poem
- Follow-up conversation if desired
Conference Keynote Capture: £750
- Full conference attendance to understand context
- Real-time harvesting of keynote content
- Performance for full conference audience
- Digital and print-ready versions
Multi-day Event Coverage: Custom pricing
- Ongoing presence throughout your event
- Multiple harvest moments
- Comprehensive poetic documentation
- Collaborative planning for maximum impact
Virtual Events: 20% discount on all packages
Ready to Add Poetry to Your Next Gathering?
I’m currently booking events for 2025. Whether you’re planning a small community workshop or a large conference, let’s talk about how poetic harvesting could serve your goals.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you need to know about our topic in advance? Some context is helpful, but part of my skill is listening for the universal human themes that emerge in any gathering. I’ve harvested events on everything from blockchain technology to community gardening to organizational strategy.
What if our event is virtual? Virtual events work beautifully for poetic harvesting! I join your video call, listen and take notes, then deliver the poem live to your online audience.
How long does the poem performance take? Typically 3-5 minutes, though this can be adjusted based on your agenda and needs.
Do you work with events outside Manchester? Yes! I travel throughout the UK and can join virtual events from anywhere in the world.
What if we want to record or share the poem afterward? Absolutely! You’ll receive both a written version and permission to record and share the performance (with credit) however serves your community best.