Read the Poems That Will Be Imprinted in Northfield Sidewalks

The Arts and Culture Commission of Northfield, in partnership with the Friends and Foundation of the Library, the winners of the city’s second annual Sidewalk Poetry Contest and now have released the poems for reading.  

Chosen from among 82 poems submitted for judging, ten poems have been selected for imprinting in city sidewalks.  

The ACC received a grant through the Southeastern Minnesota Arts Council to support this project. The grants are made possible through Minnesota's Legacy Fund, as appropriated by the Minnesota Legislature.

Here are the poems:

Nancy Cantwell

Belt shining bright

in winter’s dark

Orion strides

westward across the sky

and night by night

leaves us a promise

of returning spring

Matthew Fitzgerald 

My father asked if I wanted the farm

Looking across the still barren fields

Praying for rain

Fearing thunder and God

I wondered what would happen

If I said, “yes.” 

D.E. Green

Tread lightly here:

move through

the world so softly

you do not disturb

the dragonfly at rest. 

D.E. Green

Why are your eyes

cast down? Look up

and listen: The world

offers its own poetry.

Rob Hardy

September—

Sept—the sound of summer

striking its last match

to burn a few more bright days

down to the ember of October trees.

Rob Hardy

Consider how we fold

the fitted sheet.

It takes the two of us,

starting with so much

space between us,

holding the corners,

bringing them together,

hands meeting in the middle.

D.A. Huisentruit

My eyes saw beauty

and I beheld it

My skin felt sunshine

and I absorbed it

My mind found silence

and I shared it

Just breathe

Martha Paas

We pass each other by

Nod and walk on

Each with our sorrows

And our dreams

On our way to tell them to the river.

Ryan C. Prichard

I long for the thunder to wake me

For the lightning to shock

to shake me

For my thoughts to rule the night

For the weather’s heartless bite

Leslie Schultz

Tonight, a red star

catches in the elms,

the moon burns

on the horizon,

the whole world

glitters,

even my breath.