My Work Poem Joins Whitman and Cummings at Coney Island

So, here’s a fun story.

This summer, I was hired by Amanda Deutch of Parachute Literary Arts, a Coney Island organization, to design a series of large vinyl banners showcasing poems by Woody Guthrie, Walt Whitman, E. E. Cummings, Muriel Rukeyser, Paul Blackburn, and Christian Molieri. I designed them, Amanda had them printed, and I went out to Coney Island to photograph them for my quarterly Mailchimp newsletter.

On my way home on the F train, I began to write my story. The force of the poetry I’d just seen and read in Coney Island that evening must have been strong in me because I was quickly thrown off course by the idea of writing the post not as a news update as I usually do, but as a poem. Not just a poem, mind you, but the first poem I’d written since high school.

I wrote the poem — a sort of work poem — and sent out the Mailchimp email the next morning, including to Amanda. Much to my surprise, she asked if I’d be up for producing an additional banner —one with my poem. She loved the idea of visitors having a meta experience of poetry.

So I’m now a published poet of sorts, with my poem “Hungry for Hot Dogs and Poetry” hanging alongside poems by such titans as E. E. Cummings and Walt Whitman. Go figure.

I hope you're having a good summer. And if you're near Coney Island, please go see—and read— the beautiful poetry on display. The banners will be up through the fall.

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Hungry for Hot Dogs and Poetry

I took the F train to Coney Island, USA, last night.

Land of plenty.

Land of poetry.

I didn’t even have to cross the Hudson.

Stillwell Avenue.

Neptune Avenue.

Mermaid Avenue.

One-time home of Woody Guthrie.

Current home of the grinning steeplechase face.

Thunderbolt roller coaster.

Scream Zone.

Nathan’s hot dogs.

And, this summer, this fall, eight vinyl banners.

Eight Coney Island songs, poems, and letters.

Hanging outside on fences.

With plastic ties.

Amanda showed them some love.

She showed Woody Guthrie, Walt Whitman, E. E. Cummings, Muriel Rukeyser,

Paul “Clickety-Clack” Blackburn, and Christian Molieri some love.

Then E. E. Cummings again, this time in Spanish.

More love.

Amanda Deutch, of Parachute Literary Arts,

Of Coney Island,

Of the Coney Island Poetry Map,

Hired me to design these eight banners.

To help bring these poems and songs to the hungry masses.

Hungry for hot dogs and poetry.

They're tall and beautiful—so you see them.

That’s why I went to Coney Island.

To see them, and then to read them.

To show them some love.

Damn, they look great.

They read even better!

My teenager would say otherwise.

He'd say they are fly. Or fire. Or gas.

Now it’s your turn.

Take the F train. Or the D, Q, or N.

Get off at Stillwell Avenue.

Cross the street.

Coney Island, USA.

You don’t even have to cross the Hudson.

It's right there—on the other side of Brooklyn.

It’ll be there rain or shine.

On blinking days and sweaty nights.

Bring $4.99 to buy a hot dog from Nathan’s.

Say hi to Woody, Walt, and Muriel.

Say hi to E. E., Christian, and Paul.

Paul “Clickety-Clack” Blackburn.

They’d love to see you.

They’ll be there all day and all night,

all summer,

all fall.

Watching the throngs.

Watching for you.

Go show them some love.