PUBLIC ART POETRY

Calling all Poets in Reston!

This event has ended. Thank you so much for being part of it! We’ll be sharing the winners and final results soon, so please check back later.

Free verse, rhyme, spoken word, or classic style, Bring it on!

Do you pour your heart out in powerful, beautiful words? Now’s your time to shine! Submit your poems based on Reston public artworks (like the ones below), share your creative voice, and compete for exciting prizes including a gourmet dinner at The Simon restaurant and an overnight stay at the new JW Marriott, among many others!

All skill levels are welcome to apply!

Deadline: April 30, 2026

1. Wakan (2007) by Richard Lew

Location: Crescent Park Dr

Importance: “Wakan” refers to spiritual energy or sacred power in some Indigenous traditions.

Poetry Prompt Ideas:

What feels sacred here, even if it’s quiet or ordinary?
Where do you feel power in your own life that isn’t loud?

2. Book of Love (2008) — Anne Nagy

Location: 11925 Bowman Towne Dr

Importance: Everyone has a relationship with love, even if it’s complicated.

Poetry Prompt Ideas:

What chapter of love are you currently in?
What page would you tear out, or reread?

3. Weathervanes (1990) — RTKL, Inc. of Baltimore

Location: Presidents St / Market St

Importance: Movement, direction, change, indecision

Poetry Prompt Ideas:

What influences your direction right now?
Are you choosing your path, or reacting to pressure?

4. The Messenger (2023) — Nicholas Zimbro

Location: 11919 Freedom Dr

Importance: The title alone invites storytelling and voice.

Poetry Prompt Ideas:

Who is sending it and who’s meant to receive it?
What happens if the message is misunderstood or arrives too late?

5. Mercury Fountain (1990) — Saint Clair Cemin

Location: 11900 Fountain Dr

Importance: Fluid, reflective, slightly mysterious—great for sensory writing.

Poetry Prompt Ideas:

What emotions does the motion remind you of?
If this fountain could speak, what would it say and to whom?

6. Bird with Nest (2025) — Nicholas Zimbro

Location: 11919 Freedom Dr

Importance: Themes of home, care, vulnerability, and protection.

Poetry Prompt Ideas:

Is the nest a place of safety or responsibility?