Szonja Szurop
I was born and raised in Budapest, Hungary, and as I grew up, the city grew with me, and I got to know more sides of it. It is an accidental mix of different cultural influences, tragic and victorious history, nightlife, chaotic public transportation, and social divides. I chose to depict my hometown in the Futurist style because it could capture this diversity the best.
Catherine Bratton
I chose to write my poem in a Futurist style because I wanted to draw a map of all the places that I have lived in. Each one of “my cities” is located on the page how they are geographically located in relation to Sewanee, at the center. Each city has a few words describing that town and what it means to me, as well as a small drawing that represents that location. The lines around the work represent the numerous highways that we have driven on as we moved, as well as the repetition of things that defined my childhood.
Lydia Goffi
I chose to write a poem because it was the best way for me to accurately describe my city and convey the love I have for my hometown. My city means a lot to me because I have lived there all my life, and I wanted to do it justice through this project. The free word poem allowed me to express my feelings toward home completely and freely.
“La mia città”
La mia città è grande,
Ma non è più grande del mio amore
per la mia città.
La mia casa è fuori della città,
nella periferia,
in cui è tranquillo.
Nella città
ci sono un caos di strade,
Che attraversa tutta la città,
come un piatto degli spaghetti.
Nel cuore della città,
c’è una ruota panoramica
dove tutte le persone possono vedere la città.
La mia città è Atlanta,
e la mia città è davvero il mio amore.
Olivia Harmon
In an exploration of futurist poetry, this poem illustrates both elements from nature and my community. Over the past decade, my hometown (San Francisco) has struggled as tourists started purchasing homes that were formerly long-term rentals. This change has affected the community in many ways. To explore this, I wanted to include elements from nature that have attracted tourists and the effects of these changes on the people who live in the town.
Allie Jones
I wrote a Futurist style poem about my hometown, Kansas City. I chose to do a Futurist poem because I could experiment with the layout and shape of the poem. The symbol I turned the lines into is a Kansas City logo that is seen all around the town. The poem itself describes aspects I love about the city, like how Kansas City is in Kansas and Missouri.
Rose Meima
My city, Washington, DC represents inclusivity. People from all different backgrounds and places come to this city to work and to live, which makes my home a unique place. The culture of DC is what you make it. Its beauty can be seen in the historical monuments and beautiful nature. It holds opportunity for anyone who lives there.
“La mia città”
La mia città è grande e diversa.
Vivo nella capitale del paese.
L’architettura rappresenta libertà.
Gente politica occupa l’area, ma non sono inclusi nella popolazione totale.
La città è forte con elementi storici e monumenti importanti.
La natura verde circonda l’industrializzazione che procura pace in una vita impegnata.
Il fiume Potomac collega la gente da Maryland e Virginia alla città.
Questo fiume circonda Washington come l’acqua circonda un castello.
Washington è la mia casa con comodità e opportunità.
Prospera, si trova pace in mezzo a attività frenetica.
Marc Monteil
I wrote this poem because as a black immigrant who lives in Maryland, I have witnessed a lot. Especially with the events surrounding the BLM movement in the past few years, it was eye-opening to see how the world reacted and responded to it. From the protests to the violence, Maryland being the center of it all. Allies were coming together to fight against injustice. But with every good, there is also evil. January 6 to be specific, was the day when I realize no matter how much good can be done, there will always be people who disagree and choose violence.
Ciao, io sono le tredici colonie,
sono la casa bianca
lì abita il presidente
Il quarantaquattresimo presidente è Obama che è il primo presidente nero
Sono i musei
il luogo in cui i terroristi hanno attaccato DC il 6 gennaio
Sono dove i neri hanno protestato "BLACK LIVES MATTER"
è dove vengono fatte le leggi
Sono il Maryland.
Nicole Nesbitt
I chose this style because the primary visual that springs to mind when I think fondly of home (Newport Beach, CA) is that of the beach. The beach to me is best represented by waves and bright sunshine, so those are the two elements I chose to emphasize visually with the presentation of my poem.
Emma Jewell
I wanted to portray Little Rock as a place that I will always feel welcome in. It is my home, but I consider it more of a launching place now. The world is too big for me to live there forever, but it will always hold a special place in my heart. I love it for all of the memories I keep of it with me and for the people who live there. It is a place I can always go back to if I need love and support.
Máté Garai
I chose to represent my home city Budapest (Hungary) in the futurist style of Paroliberismo or parole in libertà because I feel like there is so much more that can be expressed visually that you just cannot do with a more classic style. My tavola parolibera is titled “Giovane Budapest” (Young Budapest). I wanted to express a general feeling of what it is like to be a teenager on the streets of Budapest. Drinking cheap liquor on the side of the river, the smell of urine and cigarettes, the old buses, and the late-night parties all encompass a general 'vibe' that is all so familiar to the youth of the city.
Brown Myers
I decided to use the traditional style of poetry to convey my feelings for my city because it was the form that I felt I could best express myself in. To me, Nashville represents a big town that’s small enough that you still feel like you know everyone around you. On top of that, there’s a sprinkle of childhood nostalgia that just makes the place feel much tighter knit than your average place.
“Nashville”
La mia città è più di una città qualunque.
È più delle attrazioni turistiche.
È dove ho imparato ad amare attraverso la tragedia,
Dove le lacrime erano sempre felici e fantastiche.
La mia città è la mia casa.
Le strade del centro cantano il mio nome,
E l’erba della città non è mai passa.
È dove le partite hanno deciso chi erano gli uomini.
L’edificio di Batman si alza sopra lo skyline del centro,
Vicino a dove i miei eroi d’infanzia hanno combattuto per la mia città.
La luce, l’energia, e il rumore dei fan sono sempre dentro.
Gli unici uomini a Nashville che ogni bambino ama.
La mia città è il mio professore.
Guardo intorno e capisco che sono debitore.
Nashville mi ha solo dato di tutto e anche di più,
E un giorno, ho intenzione di tornare per il resto dei miei giorni.
Caroline Lang
I chose to write my poem in a way that reflects the Futurism movement because Futurists embraced modern technology and industrialization. Huntsville is a city that embodies technological advancement and growth, so it seemed to fit perfectly! This city is also where I was born and raised, and a Futurist format allowed me to share different aspects of my childhood in a more creative way.
Nathalia Castro
Nashville has many qualities but it is always different to those who live in Green Hills or in Franklin. Due to mass migration from all the states, the habitats and trees I used to admire as a high schooler are now being destroyed. Our youth is in even more danger than before, and there aren’t enough resources to go around. Rent, gas, and utilities have risen, especially in low-income neighborhoods. This forces my community to work even longer hours and harder jobs to keep a roof over their families, whom they see very little. This is my Nashville.
Drew Mullen
Inspired by Umberto Saba’s Trieste, my poem reflects the feelings and emotions I have towards my hometown. I describe Philadelphia on a winter day and explain that my appreciation for the city is less for the place and more for the memories, culture, and family. I chose this style of poem because I like the flow of the rhyming scheme and the opportunity to include meaningful contradictions similar to Saba’s “Trieste”.
“La Mia Citta: Filadelfia”
Il freddo vento soffia mentre la neve cade.
Le strade affollate sono vive e piene,
ma io mi sento piccolo in questo popoloso terreno.
C’è un’aura di amore fraterno,
però non credo che sia eterno.
Potrei uscire per viaggiare nel mondo,
pero c’è qualcosa con la città che è profondo.
Ho un sentimento però non per il posto,
è per i ricordi, la cultura e soprattutto,
la famiglia.
È difficile esprimere poco amore,
ma quando io penso alla mia città natale non sento mai dolore.
Jarely Soriano
I chose the style of futurism for my poem because I used a lot of descriptors that I thought would be fun to illustrate. My city represents a space that once felt lively and full of nostalgia and fun attractions but lately has felt dull. Since the pandemic, I haven’t been outside very much but there is hope for the future now! (once the rain stops)
