1. Tommy W. Age 34 Regent Square.......2b

Geez Oh Man, Stillers For Life!

8. Molly O. Age 20 Oakland.......................3b

Pittsburgh is where I came to grow and on that journey it became my home.

101. Leah P. Age 24 Jersey......................3a

Pittsburgh: A HaikuRiding the InclinePierogies on Every StreetCity of Bridges

128. Gina R................................................2b

Where do Streetlamps Cry!I can barely tastethe placein which I left my heart.The lingering smell of walking down your street and inhaling as I passall the laundry vents, mixing with the sweatof the summer nights air.I would get a rush ofthat distant feelingand break the cementskyscrapers as I bounded, for placesthat felt like home tomy body.I sat on the distant ledge, staring at the mix of city and rolling hills, and fantasized fondlyof where they metand how they mustdream of each other.As I dream of you.

310. Sullivan B. Age 8 Mt. Lebanon..........2b

Pittsburghlooks like a rectanglesmells like hot dogssounds like awesometastes like pizzafeels like cement

9. Chelsea S. Age 23 Mt. Washington.......2b

Incline Ride!See all the buildings.

11. Lilyiin Age 23 Squirrel Hill....................3a

French fries on salads

123. Carolyn H-S. Age 23 Savannah, GA.2b

So I don’t live here.The less I come back, the more I like it.

16. Chris W. Age 32 Oakland...................2b

Old BuildingsSteel ShadowThree Rivers

304. Peter Age 7 Sewickley......................1b

Pittsburghlooks like bigsmells like hamburgerssounds like busytastes like pizzafeels like water

17. Stephanie B. Age 29 Point Breeze......1b

On the North Shorebehind the Science Centerjust past the waterstepsthere is a quiet little spotwhere the river crashesand the boats speed byand the skyline sparklesand the red of the inclines cuts through the green of Mt. Washingtonacross the water on a bright summer day

and whereyou and I first changed a city

from mine to ours.

106. Billy E. Age 25 Bloomfield..................2a

TopographicalFractured by rivers, ravinesUnited by love

21. Michelle B. Age 27 Brookline...............2b

Pittsburgh is a hidden city gem

25. Katie S. Age 27 Mt. Oliver....................2b

PittsburghThe grey gritty heaviness becomes youDrags you as you navigate its streetsYou twist, and turn, and climb your way through an ever-changing landscapeever-changing faces, racesthat greet you on your way

26. Ciarán, O’C. Age 32 Forest Hills..........3b

Peter Piper, pickled peppersPirates, Penguins, PNCPenn Ave, Pittsburgh, PennsylvaniaPeople, Pride, PoetryGo Steelers!

29. Briar S. Age 21 Wilkinsburg.................2b

Pittsburgh never had an ego--Alright, that’s a lie.

We don’t anymore, though--we have selves, communities,pride, way too much football,and those gawd-awful UPMCletters on our Steel Building.

Sometimes we can be insular, holed uptogether in the valleys of the plateau--But hey, we’re re-localizing.If you’re not sure why that’s cool, yinz is ignrt.

152. Joseph M. Age 63 Squirrel Hill..........3b

Trees & hills, rivers & squirrels, home

308. Franklin B. Age 3 Mt. Lebanon..........2b

Pittsburghlooks like the Children’s Museumsmells like nothingsounds like duckstastes like pizzafeels like the air

30. Daniel W. Age 23 Wilkinsburg..............4a

Pittsburgh in the twilight in the dustin the grit, in the steel, in the sweatthe pumping of steel fingers, iron legs

Pittsburghin the twilight, in the dust

31. Alex K. Age 25 Lawrenceville...............2a

Pittsburgh smells like a jungle surprise.Fried potatoes and wet bicycles.Pittsburgh is my birthday partywith fire and streamers and cider

Pittsburgh wakes me up in the morning.

33. Pete S. Age 30-something Bloomfield.3b

Trashy in the mostbeautiful ways n@Pittsburgh you are growing

34. Sarah L. Age 24 Northside..................2b

Pittsburgh IsPittsburgh is like an armaround your waist, a lukewarmbeer on a tarpaper roofand a postcard to your grandma.

35. Evan B. Polish Hill...............................2b

At the exact second my chest achedas I tried to remember her…and what she felt like…the unexpected 4am train blew its whistle[and it was alright.]

316. Taylor G. Age 23 North Side................2b

Pittsburghlooks like a thousand gems at night through the Fort Pitt tunnelsmells like homesounds like musictastes like korean pancakes form the stripfeels like warm blankets

37. Elliot S. Age 24 Troy Hill.......................2a

I’ve left Pittsburghmore times than I can count, and eachtime, I think, that’s it.I’m never frickin’ coming back to this sprawling mess.And each time, I do.

22. Stephanie D. Age 22 Bethel Park..........4b

Pittsburgh sounds like the laughter of students on a playground,the honking of car horns on the Ft. Pitt bridge, theslow sad notes of a street musician late at night, and thequiet, calm breeze of the wind in the trees at Schenley.

41. Erin M. Age 23 Greenfield....................4b

Pittsburgh is homebecause I didn’t have to grow up here.I imagine growing up here wouldn’t be so badbut the word homeis kinda sour, like thecrust of curdled milk hugging the bottom of a jug after weeksof being unable or unwilling to take out the trash.

Pittsburgh is home because it isn’t.

42. Lizzee S. Age 24 Bloomfield.................3a

Blossoming baby gurls in Bloomfield

Girls with legs like trees in Oakland, orange & strongUnleashing their dark side on the South SideShady girls bouge-in’ it up in Shadyside, J Crew, RolexGirls look like guys in LawrencevilleAnd in the S’Lib, they slubbin’ & rubbin’But where is the 6119? No longer a place to be--but a place to be paid.

43. Mary H. Age 55 Edgewood....................4a

When I moved here,I would watch the train go byOn Pennwood Avenueand imagine that I was on the trainLooking out and saying, I used to live hereBut I’m still here.

309. Matthew S. Age 14 Mt. Lebanon........2b

Pittsburghlooks like bridgessmells like foodsounds like carstastes like pizzafeels like winter

45. Mark Mt. Oliver......................................3b

Friendship54CTrying to get to Penn Ave, 45 minutes later--we’re in Mt. Oliver.

50. Lois C. 87 Springdale............................2b

Meet Me Under The Kaufmann’s ClockIf Kaufmann’s clock could talk, it would tell thousands of stories of people who met under it. Many people loved to arrange lunch with former classmates and we met under the clock on the corner of the department store in Pittsburgh.

I met people there for years. I am glad to say

I still meet people there.Some blind dates stood there waiting to find

out what the person would look like. They did fall in love and marry.

So, if the Kaufmann’s clock could talk it would have thousands of words to tell us, to have a picture.

7. Dave S. Age 57 Wexford.......................2a

From steel mills and train yardsto health care and computers,Pittsburgh is evolving.

322. Hannah S. Age 10 North Lima, OH...2b

Pittsburghlooks like flowers

smells like candysounds like a citytastes like airfeels like fluff.

102. Jen M. Age 27 East Liberty...............3a

Chicken telephone wirepot hole streets, sunset hilltops sludge of melted snow

107. Michelle A. Age 25 Bloomfield..........3a

Pittsburgh Grit grime homego awaycome back. homealways.

108. Matt S. Age 30 Troy Hill.....................2b

Pittsburgh’s StreetsWhere the ghosts of myancestors mingle withCarnegie and Frick

317. Molly D. Age 9 Mt. Lebanon..............1b

Pittsburghlooks like buildingssmells like gassounds like locuststastes like moe’sfeels like home

109. Carrie G. Age 31 Troy Hill..................2b

broken steps, full heartsbloom into vacant lot weedsfinches teach their young to swoop

from cluttered rowhouse gutters

142. Cheri G. Age 53 McMurray, PA..........1b

Pittsburgh is stealing mychildren.

114. Maeve H. Age 18 Bloomfield..............3a

Hot in the summerJust freezing in the winterBut it’s always home.

300. Nathan R. Age 4 New Kensington.....3a

Pittsburghlooks like big buildingssmells like rosessounds like dadtastes like pizzafeels like hot

116. Les G. Age 28 East Liberty................3a

Where three rivers meetWhere a stairway can pass as a streetBehind on trends, but on the beatA connected communityWhere you feel complete.

20. Ryan R. Age 31 Bloomfield.................3b

Smells like a pizzaTastes like a Dog.

126. Anonymous........................................2a

Kids on the bridgePittsburgh Pittsburgh, manPBR in both hands manBeautiful rivers

120. A.P. Age 51 Highland Park.................3a

ProvincialProvincial-iviProvincial-eskiProvincial-owitzO’ProvincialYellowOrange Blue and now greenOn the cusp of Being cosmopolitan

321. Faith S. Mt. Lebanon........................2b

Pittsburghlooks like the most beautiful city in the worldsmells like flowers, greens, and incense

sounds like birds and bellstastes like my favorite casserolefeels like home.

15. Colleen Y. Age 33 Rochester, Beaver County........................................................2b

I see the road we wantup there, over there, down there.Cross another bridge, through another tunnelthe road is--oh! missed the exit.Across the bridge again, circles larger,There! Now! No!Crossing that damn bridge, into the circle.Calm down, Mom, it’s not that bad!Once, twice, three times around. Finally! The right road!Shimmering and shining, Downtown beckons.

131. Dov Ber N. Age 30 Squirrel Hill........4b

Saturday morningsTallis and kaputaEveryone says good shabbosEveryone

133. Tatum B. Age 8 Bethel Park...............2b

Pittsburgh is noisy, crowded, and grimy.

161. Amolya G. Age 10 Fox Chapel...........3a

In spring, hear the rain on the pane,In summer, take early-morning walks.In winter, watch from my window.In autumn, enjoy the cool breeze.

111. Nikki L. Age 21 Oakland.....................3b

Pittsburgh is endlessstaircases, hiding adventures,overgrown secrets

144. Timothy D. Age 32 Drifter...................2b

you can love the bridges of Pittsburghriding as fast as you candown hill to sit in silent mood bythe rivers, but dear god stayaway from the locals

149. Rachel H. Age 41 Highland Park.......3a

Pittsburgh began as a temporary stopit became where we liveand becomes where I’m from

151. Kip P. Squirrel Hill...............................3a

There is so much water in PittsburghThere’s the rivers, the Ohio and the ones with the long names that are impossible to spellEach complete with a beachLike a seaside resort, with more two-headed fish and pollution

And then there’s the rainThunderstorms year round as you watch your dog chase lightningAnd curl up with a book and candlesBecause even though the powers on you,

you want to feel like the darkness is your blanketAnd then there’s the tears you shedAs you take steps away from this Atlantis of the MidWestMoving to a world that’s a little drier and a little sadder.

301. Anonymous..........................................2b

Pittsburghlooks like black and yellowsmells like foodsounds like carstastes like rosesfeels like a city.

155. Renee R. Age 49 Manchester..............1b

Red tailed hawkstares me down from missjackies fence.diabetes took her legs(miss jackie that is)but it didn’t takeher gardenthat’s the north sidewe perseverethere is magicthere if you justhave the guts tostare down the hawk

158. Rozanne M. Age 58 North Versailles...4b

Pittsburgh-MysteryAdventure-DiversityArts-Innovation

47. Illa B. 73 Oakland..................................2b

Seventy-three winsPirates standing in league.507

117. Janette S. Age 40 Mckees Rocks........1b

Every writer has a cityand you are my place, my landmy siren song, my templeyou are the door that openedmy undiscovered selfyou are my mecca, my shangri layou are the Bodhisatwa, the pathwayto Nirvana. You showed mehow to take no prisoners, howto set myself aright. You taughtme a new song and how to sing it.Every writer has a cityand you are my place, my land.

140. Anonymous..........................................4a

When I die, I do not carewhat happens to my body.

I would just like to havesomebody think of me, oncein a while, as they walk through Frick Park in lateOctober.

200. Brandon McC. Age 29 Polish Hill.........2b

The city shines out across the water like promise itself,a flaming white love letter to

work-worn hands, a cannon-fired kiss aimed at young dreamers,

and I say to it, “I love you too, Pittsburgh.”

318. Emily D. Age 12 Mt. Lebanon..............2b

Pittsburghlooks like endless winding streets cramped with carssmells like french fries wafting out of the tailgater’s cars.sounds like cars vrooming, people talking, stadiums cheeringtastes like coleslaw and french fry hamburgersfeels like home

Pittsburgh PoemsSummer 2013Pittsburgh PoemsSummer 2013

Copyright 2013 by Literary Arts BoomPublished by Laboratory Publishing Company

5125 Penn Ave.Pittsburgh, PA 15224

Manufactured in the United States by Laboratory Publishing Company, a divi-sion of Literary Arts Boom.

Design and layout by Chase McBrydeEditorial and design assistance by Paula Levin

This crowd-sourced collection of black and gold poems was gathered by Literary Arts Boom throughout the summer of 2013 at various events, including the WYEP Summer Music Festival, July’s Unblurred gallery crawl, and the Mini Maker Faire.

Pittsburgh Poems showcases improvised and unrevised poetry by kids and adults from in and around the city -- including born-and-raised Pittsburghers as well as transplants and visitors. It’s a reflection on place and a celebration

of the words that arise when we spontaneously put pen to paper.

Special thanks to Stephanie Brea for inspiring the project, prompting people to participate, and convening our teen editorial board.

Thank you, thank you, thank you to Kamyah Barry, Carrie Mannino, and Maia Rosenfeld for taking the time to read and reflect on the 100+ poems we

amassed in order to select a great mix for this anthology.

This project was supported by a grant from the Grable Foundation

www.literaryartsboom.org

c

Pittsburgh PoemsSummer 2013Pittsburgh PoemsSummer 2013

1

1

2

2

a

b

Pittsburgh PoemsSummer 2013Pittsburgh PoemsSummer 2013

3

3

4

4

a

b