Congratulations to the three poets whose poems have made it to the final shortlist for the Douglas Park poetry mural and Word Play Way installation. The final shortlisted poets are Ariel Walton, avery r. young, and Jupiter Dandridge.
Each of these poems celebrates the legacy and future of Douglas Park and/or the North Lawndale community. Jupiter Dandridge, avery r. young, and Ariel Walton each root their words while also soaring into possible futures, and we’re grateful to have the opportunity to share their word. Congratulations and thanks to our finalists.
Check out the final three shortlisted poems below. Our next post: the winning poem! Stay tuned for final news and future launch events, featuring each of the shortlisted poets!
The Shortlist:
Jupiter Dandridge
Peace and Love
by Ariel Walton
Is what rose and will rise
as the seeds also known as children grow
Hearts filled with purity and hope
the future is what we’ll come to know
Less hate and more love
no fighting and more hugs
The very light that will shine on the darkness
healing each wound until we all progress
The very unity, in the word community
there is no I, only we
Together we’ll overcome all adversity
a unit, united we stand
Hearts exuding pure love and light
until we raise the vibration of our great land
North Lawndale
About the Poets
Ariel Walton North Lawndale Native. Community Advocate, Journalist, and Film Maker. Dedicated to uplifting her community through her art and using her voice.
avery r. young is an interdisciplinary artist and educator, 3Arts Awardee, and executive for The Floating Museum. His recent publications include The BreakBeat Poets, and Poetry Magazine. He is the featured vocalist on floutist Nicole Mitchell’s Mandorla Awakening (FPE Records) and is currently touring with her Black Earth Ensemble and his funk/soul band de deacon board. Young’s collection neckbone: visual verses (Northwestern University Press) and its soundtrack tubman (FPE Records) are available now.
Jupiter Dandridge Jupiter Dandridge is a Poetry & Fiction writer from the Westside of Chicago. He has recently graduated from the Chicago Highschool of the Arts. He enjoys dealing with surrealism in his work and opening up discussions on the subjects he writes about.
