All 27 European Union member states and the European Commission in Washington, DC, have launched a literary project titled European Poetry in Motion to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the EU.

Over a hundred poems ― five poems from each of the 27 member states of the European Union ― will be exhibited this month on posters in Washington area public bus and metro systems in their original language along with an English translation. EU country representatives also will participate in a marathon reading at the Goethe Institute and poetry readings at Bus Boys and Poets.

They have an awful flash-based website, demonstrating that good poetry is often still presented with bad code, so here are some notable events:

May 1st
Begin of exhibition in Metro buses and Metro stations

May 5th
2—7 p.m.: Poetry Marathon
Goethe Institut
812 7th Street, NW
Washington, DC 20001
For more information call: 202.289.1200 or go to
www.goethe.de/washington

May 7th-8th
EU Short Film Festival
Goethe Institut
812 7th Street, NW
Washington, DC 20001
For more information call: 202.289.1200 or go to
www.goethe.de/washington

May 9th
Europe Day
Ambassadors to School Program
European Commission Ambassador John Bruton and Ambassadors from 27 countries will be teaching students about the EU at Washington area schools to commemorate Europe Day, May 9. This marks the day in 1950 when French Foreign Minister Robert Schuman called on France, Germany and other countries to pool together their coal and steel production as the first concrete foundation of a European federation.
For more information go to www.eurunion.org

May 12th
Open House at EU member state embassies and the EU Commission in Washington, DC
Shuttle service provided
For more information go to: www.germany.info

May 20th
4 – 6 p.m.: European Poetry Reading
Busboys and Poets
2021 14th Street, NW
Washington, DC 20009
For more information call: 202.387.POET or go to
www.busboysandpoets.com

I like the ability to switch between languages when you click on the text. Very nice idea; but flash is still a horrible way to present ideas. Placing text side by side actually gives a better sense of translation. And what’s with the giant “print” button? Perhaps an “embed” button would be better so bloggers around the world could weave favorites into their own threads. Print. Who wants to print?

After looking around I’m already tempted to work on another translation of Petr Borkovec’s poem (Natural Causes).