Public Story
Martin Poetry Path
Newton residents gathered July 27 for the debut of the Martin Poetry Path in Newton Upper Falls, a short nature walk showcasing poetry and artwork submitted by residents ranging from ages eight to 80.
“It’s a celebration of who we are,” co-organizer Julie Leavitt said, describing the path’s various displays of nature-themed poetry as well as rocks students painted in event volunteer Donna Lee Thayer’s second grade class at Mason-Rice Elementary School.
The site of the path, the Martin Conservation Area, is a heavily-wooded space known to locals as a shortcut to the MBTA Eliot station. Residents of Newton for over 30 years, Julie Leavitt and husband David Schwartz jumped at the opportunity when they heard the place needed a steward.
Combining her passion for poetry with nature, Julie Leavitt, along with the help of her sister Lisa Leavitt and Schwartz, worked to create the path. After putting out calls to the Upper Falls newsletter and neighborhood social networking service Nextdoor, they received a total of 28 poetry submissions.
Specializing in visual art, Lisa Leavitt sought to arrange the visual aspect of the path to complement the poems. After receiving the rock paintings from Mason-Rice Elementary School, she helped place them at various points along the path.
“It creates a little magic along the way,” she said. “You’re not only looking for the poems but you’re looking for bursts of color and just little bits of wonder.”
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