Lindsay Smith

Lincoln Park Love Letter

West · Tremont · Poetry

Summer evening, mid-July,
I wave once passing by.
Dogs on a leash, a family of squirrels,
All basking in this beautiful world.
This love is different, can’t you see.
What’s more loyal than these trees?
Sprawling sidewalks, a set of swings
Blooming lilies, pretty things.
Church bells ring as we walk through
The farmers market to get to you.
Soft green grass tickles my feet,
At the picnic table I take a seat.
As I look around, with so much to see,
I realize these feelings do not belong solely to me.
It’s the center of our neighborhood we all come to,
Lincoln Park, here’s to you.

Lindsay Smith

Lindsay Smith is a social worker who lives in the Tremont neighborhood. She wrote Lincoln Park Love Letter as an ode to the neighborhood central gathering place. Lincoln Park is special as it brings the community together and provides the opportunity to enjoy nature in the middle of the city. Lincoln Park is a safe haven no matter a person’s age, race, or background. It’s a place to gather for festivals, picnics, and farmers markets. Its calming presence is always available for all to enjoy.

About

Neighborhood Voices is a city-wide creative writing project designed by Literary Cleveland and the Cleveland Public Library to engage writers across Cleveland, allowing residents to connect with neighbors, share stories of their community, and draft new writing about what makes their neighborhood unique.

Contact

216-623-2800
information@cpl.org
Cleveland Public Library
325 Superior Ave.
Cleveland, OH 44114

Project Created By Literary Cleveland

Literary Cleveland is a nonprofit organization and creative writing center that empowers people to explore other voices and discover their own. Through an expanding roster of multi-level classes, workshops and events, Literary Cleveland assists writers and readers at all stages of development, promotes new and existing literature of the highest quality, and advances Northeast Ohio as a vital center of diverse voices and visions.

Project Presented with Support By the Cleveland Public Library

Founded in 1869, Cleveland Public Library serves the residents of Cleveland through its network of 27 neighborhood branches, the Main Library downtown, Public Administration Library at City Hall, homebound delivery services, and mobile services to daycare and senior centers. From a collection of 10.5 million items, the Library lends over 5 million items a year to its 330,000 registered borrowers and to 43 other CLEVNET-member libraries in 12 counties across Northeast Ohio. Cleveland Public Library is home to the Ohio Center for the Book and the Ohio Library for the Blind and Physically Disabled, serving all 88 counties in the state of Ohio. For more information, visit cpl.org.