It's difficult to know what to say to those who have witnessed and survived tragedies such as the Oct. 25 mass shootings in Lewiston, Maine.

For Two Bays Poetry Pen-Pals founder Lisa K. S. Simpson, it's not just about the message, but how it is shared and, most importantly, that something is said.

"With that kind of multi-location mass shooting, I think there’s a sense of horror that comes to a community when something like this happens," Simpson said Tuesday.

Simpson, who lives in Maine but has ties to Coeur d'Alene, is inviting people to share handwritten letters of kindness and compassion through Poems and Letters for Lewiston. It is free to participate, except for the cost of a stamp.

While the messages won't replace the outpouring of love found on social media, Simpson said these tangible communications from strangers could serve as a significant symbol of support for those in their darkest hours. 

"I love that a piece of mail is a piece of love and support a survivor can hold in their hands and they can return to it," she said. "This project offers a physical note of care to return to when the news cycle moves on."

Simpson launched the Two Bays Poetry Pen-Pals community art and poetry project at the end of 2022 to "share art and heart" with others living near Cobscook Bay and the Bay of Fundy, connecting people in the U.S. and Canada.

"They send poems in, and we send them a poem back,” she said. "It's been really fun. We just received our 50th poem."

With the exchange infrastructure already in place, Simpson was able to quickly start a second program to provide a unique layer of support to those reeling in the wake of the Lewiston tragedies, which claimed 18 lives and wounded 13 more.

“It’s going to be effective the same way kindness is always effective," she said.

It might not be for everyone, she said, but for those who are willing to take the time to write a poem, a letter or even a note on a small piece of paper, it could mean the world to someone who is suffering.

"It's wonderful to know there's other people out there who have taken time — and that's one of our most valuable assets — and traded it for care," Simpson said. "They've pulled the paper down, they've pulled the envelope down."

She said it matters more when someone takes the time out of their day to do something like this for a stranger.

"It resonates when you hold it in your hand, 'This person thought of me on this day, they wanted me to have this,'" she said. "It’s a very human connection and I think that can be a balm for the soul."

Submit letters by Nov. 23. If a person cannot write, or is uncomfortable writing, Two Bays will accept typed poems or letters. They will be delivered by Simpson and her team.

Mail poems and letters of support to:

Poems & Letters for Lewiston
CO: Two Bays Poetry Pen Pals
PO Box 309
Pembroke, ME 04666

    Simpson