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Future of Nicollet Mall Poetry Contest Results
The Results Are In....
DID is starting to dream about the future of the Nicollet Mall. Anticipation of change can be exciting, and DID wanted to engage everyone, young and old alike, to start thinking about what the Nicollet Mall could be. What could the future hold for our region’s Main Street? We asked the community to submit short poems about what the Nicollet Mall means to them and what they would like to see in the future. Hundreds of wonderful poems were submitted; the final decision was not an easy one. Thank you to all who entered the contest and congratulations to our winners!
The winning poems will be featured on display signs in the new garden areas at the North end of the Nicollet Mall. Come join us on September 13th at 5pm to celebrate all who participated in the contest, recognize the winners and witness the unveiling of the new poetry signs.
Youth Grade 3-8
Winner: Olivia Milligan
One New Leaf
We gather around to reset nature and bring back its peace,
to come together as a community but not strangers,
to let our children see the future and welcome change.
Runner Up: Zoe Grubbs
Vibrant colors swirl around,
Buses come and go,
Leaves fall, flowers grow,
Sunlight, citylight, moonlight,
the city never sleeps.
Runner Up: Patrick Daley
Nicollet Haiku
The cars drive by.
The vibrant signs glow.
Music is playing.
Youth Grade 9-12
Winner: Keylena Faircloth
Visions seen by the public.
This is finally it.
Change has come for Nicollet mall
Only our future can reveal it all.
Time to turn good into great
by gathering around to celebrate.
Runner Up: Michaela Moore
I envision
A subtle difference
Change made
For a new beginning
Not a new path
But improved
Simply strengthened
Along with the community
Soon to be
Greater than ever imagined
Runner Up: Melissa Thomey
Constructions once construed,
Handiwork of 19th century entrepreneurs,
All epitaphs of past, cocoons craving vision.
Now, a new metamorphosis.
Gather Minneapolis, spread wings to destiny-
Establishments renewed, change enthusing future.
Adult Category
Winner: Carol Rucks
Here at the garden
of sidewalk and bird,
skyway and storefront,
where the city buildings
shimmer
and mirror the gleam
of the river,
the community begins.
Runner Up: Ann Tonskemper
Market smells
Orchestral sounds
Concert lights and vibrant nights.
Baseball cheers
Commerce hears
Rolling bikes, little tikes,
Gathered friends and changing trends.
Our flavors, our community, our Mall.
Runner Up: Karlyn Coleman
Gather here,
beneath all this reflecting glass,
and watch snow fall through the orange glow of the street lights.
Snow the color of sunlight.
Senior Category
Winner: Judith A. Kirk
Ode to Nicollet Mall
Innovative
contemplative
music in the air.
Twinkling lights
tasty bites
crazy, blowing hair.
Business lunches
flower bunches
people everywhere.
Vibrant,
changing,
rearranging —
Come, pull up a chair
Runner Up: Michael Strauss
I am a string on a violin.
Artists, musicians, chefs, shopkeepers, bankers
Reverberate me making vibrant music
A community gathers to listen
To their vision of the future.
Runner Up: Jennifer Hagen
Changes
10: Streetcar to Kresges for dime bag of peanuts,
20: Dayton’s Wedding Night Peignoir
50: Westminster Son’s wedding
78: Central Library for Aging Art Forum
79: Market for lilies
Thank You To All Our Jury Members
Aki Shibata -MN Center for the Book Arts
Ardie Medina- Loft Literary Center
Ed Anton- Hennepin County Library
Gene Rerat- Base Management Company
Joe Skifter- Open Book Minnesota
Katrina Vandenberg- Milkweed Publications
Leah Cooper- Minneapolis Arts Commission
Melissa Koch- Hennepin Theatre Trust
Sarah Harris- Minneapolis DID
