The Haiku Newton project debuted in spring 2022, bringing poems on lawn-style signs to various locations in the Garden City. Passersby were surprised and delighted to encounter the haikus in parks or along busy sidewalks.
As word spread on social media about the project, people came from around Greater Boston to see the signs for themselves. Others viewed the poems via short online video tours that were created by project co-director Grey Held (pictured, first photo in carousel at right).
Grey and co-director Elizabeth Lund were thrilled to welcome Greg Fulchino as a co-director (second photo in carousel) in 2023. Poets from various states and two foreign countries submitted work that year. A panel of judges selected 24 winning poems, which were printed on display panels and attached to sign frames.
The 2023 signs were displayed in front of the Newton Free Library, at 330 Homer Street, and in front of the First Baptist Church in Newton, at 848 Beacon Street, until late May. The installations then moved to three new sites until late July: the Depot Coffee Shoppe in Newton Upper Falls (third photo in carousel), the Boys & Girls Club, located at 675 Watertown Street, Newtonville, and Grey Held's front lawn on Watertown Street.
Haiku Newton also participated in the Linda Plaut Festival of the Arts on July 22. One set of signs was on display at the festival location, the Hyde Community Center at 90 Lincoln Street, and a Haiku Hut encouraged attendees to write poems of their own.
If you weren't able to see the signs, you can enjoy two videos that Grey created of the library installation. Each video features 12 poems, so viewers can see both sides of the signs. One tour heads
toward the library's parking lot; the other heads
toward Walnut Street.We're thrilled that
Newton Community Pride is now the generous sponsor for Haiku Newton. Sign up for our mailing list in the footer of this website to receive updates about the 2025 contest.