I meet a poet in the park.
April 24, 2026, Washington Square Park, New York City.
It was a bright, sunny afternoon when I came upon Maria Coyle selling custom poems in the park.
When it was my turn, I asked her to write about a woman who thought her wedding vows were to love, honor, and respect each other only to discover that her husband thought the vows were to love, cherish, and obey.
I thought the poem was superb, and asked if I could adopt it as a song and render it with AI. She agreed.
I thanked her for the original copy and told her that I consider her the copyright holder of the words. I also hope that, when she writes poems for others, she makes sure to retain her copyright. She could be a very talented songwriter.
You do not have to run into her in the park to have her write a poem for you.
Find her on Etsy here: https://www.etsy.com/listing/1834190900/handwritten-letter-custom-poetry-paired
Listen to all the renderings.
Tell us in the comments which one you like best.
Brooke Allen 