Downtown Tulsa Partnership has presented "Curbside Haiku" to bring the written word to the streets of downtown Tulsa for its second year.

In 2022, Downtown Tulsa Partnership debuted "Curbside Haiku" to celebrate the vibrancy and inclusivity of downtown.

This month, after a call to the public, over 100 short poems were submitted as entries.

In partnership with Magic City Books and the Woody Guthrie Center, 10 of the submitted poems were selected to be displayed.

Downtown Tulsa Partnership commissioned Tulsa artist Dawn Tree to design a backdrop for the poetry.

Tree is a Tulsa-based artist, entrepreneur, and activist whose pieces often provoke thoughts of community, humanity, spirituality, and connections to the present and past.

She says her art for the "Curbside Haiku" project depicts an abstract fist that symbolizes respect, power, and advancement.

“There are vibrant colors sprouting and reaching from the fist, representing positive energy vibrating through the atmosphere,” Tree said.

Her artwork and the 10 winning poems are featured on 150 boards placed in planter beds across downtown Tulsa.

These displays will remain in these spots for the next 30 to 45 days.

For a map of all haiku locations, click here.

“This spring, we received nearly four times as many Curbside Haiku poetry submissions as last year,” said Morgan Phillips, Downtown Tulsa Partnership’s Director of Marketing & Experience. “We had poets as young as 11 years old submit a haiku, as well as poets from as far away as California and even England. This excellent response is a clear indication that people are both inspired by Downtown Tulsa and support unique public art opportunities like this one.”

All 10 poets were recognized at an event on March 23.

To view all poetry submissions, click here.