2025 Poetry on the Trail Winners
The 2025 Poetry on the Trail contest is sponsored by Suzanne Follan Cook.
The Cazenovia Preservation Foundation is delighted to announce the winners of the 2025 Poetry on the Trail Competition on the theme of “Neighbors.”
This year’s winning poets beautifully explored the nuance of neighbor relationships —across fences, within families, between community members, and even among the elements of nature itself. Their words remind us that the ties that connect us can be both simple and profound.
Celebrate with Us on the Trail
Join us for a Fall Foliage & Poetry on the Trail Hike on Sunday, October 5, at 1:00 p.m. as we unveil the new trailside exhibit of the winning poems along the Gorge Trail. Surrounded by autumn’s colors, you’ll hear several of the poets read their works. The hike will start from the Gorge Trail Gateway trailhead at 131 Albany Street, next to the Buyea’s True Value. If the designated trail parking spots are full, please park behind the Cazenovia Public Library and follow the trail from Creekside Park to the Albany Street crossing (please do not park in the parking spaces for the Buyea’s Hardware Store).
This community celebration blends poetry, conservation, and the beauty of the season—a chance to walk, listen, and reflect on the neighbors who share our world.
Please join us in congratulating this year’s winners! Their poems will be featured on the Poetry on the Trail exhibit and available for all to enjoy throughout the year.
Selected Entries: Adult Category
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To the one whose notes bloom at my bell,
Each word a sunflower leaning in,
You never let a silence settle,
Where a warm "hello" could begin.
We share more than bricks and boundary lines,
A corridor patched with quiet grace.
You prune not just the jasmine vines,
But weave calm into this common place.
Your kindness grows like ivy wide,
Climbing the creases of my day.
You, with hands like April rain,
Make small hours blossom in soft array.
Thank you for keeping your heart unlocked,
For letting a stranger become your kin.
Not all are lucky to share a fence,
And feel the world grow gentler within.
Here's to borrowed sugar and borrowed time,
To laughter ringing down shared halls,
To tears that don't ask whose they are,
Just fall, and find neighborly walls.
-
Our backyards an adjoining dog park
The gate between us rarely shut.
Trading sourdough tips,
teasing each other like sisters we never had;
Sharing tools, rides and consoling each other over high car repair bills.
Pickleball tournies at Burton elementary school: “Just one more game.”
From different worlds and decades
I could not have ever imagined
How lovely it would be
To know that my neighbor
Right next door could make living in this sweet town
Even more delightful.
-
I can help it
That I want to start down each trail I see.
A trailhead offers only a glimpse
Of the path ahead.
Each turn may reveal
A fairy-sized waterfall,
A roaring stream post-thunderstorm
A grove of pines and ferns.
On these trails, I meet roaming deer,
Climbing racoons,
A sly fox,
Flitting birds
In and out of the verdant tunnel overhead,
Along the crisp orange pathway,
Or gingerly stepping through the icy white.
Occasionally another creature approaches,
Her companion eagerly wagging his tail.
She tips her hat with a smile.
We are all neighbors on these trails.
Selected Entries: High School/College Student Category
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So I wake at the earliest sun
Sounds of a morning song not yet sung
Your keys, your doors, your shower run
'Halley's light gleams at a distance, when evening bells have rung
In continuum, fated strings unwind strung tight-in opposition
Shuffle the gravel back to our doors
Oh, such exhilarating journeys in and out
Sounds of silence breed raging mirth into the caverns of my eager soul
The murmurs interceded by sheer plaster
Cross the gate-boundary between us
Our secrets are now ours
Everyone belongs to everyone
Throats high and dry, drenched speechless by anticipation
Keys in, keys out
Headlights, red white and blue stings my eyes
Like the flag, my eyes yearn for freedom to inspect beyond these walls
Mystery unfolds, has us behold
What story could be? Beyond those picket perfect doors...
From the left tobacco sears, leaves me in tears of better air
From the right new flowers turn sour
Alas, how many times will I hear the echo of fomo2?
fear, fear, fear... Only for the ones I held dear
For there's no symphony audible, except the private solo of my neighbor's inaudible piccolo
————————————————
1 Halley's Comet- a comet that only visits Earth every 76 years, star-crossed relationship2 FOMO- "fear of missing out," internet slang term popular among Millennials and Gen Z that expresses a fear of being left out and left behind by the world
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How do you define our community? Is it by the people you know?
Is it by the things you see?
Cazenovia is a vast group of people,
Places, and things to do.
Our community expands far past our borders.
A town does not end at its borders,
And the same can be said for its community.
Rather, it is shaped and spread by the things we do.
The community changes by who and what you know,
It is the connections between the people,
And not always something you can see.
Our community expands across the seas.
You do not have to live within our borders
Because we are a people,
And no matter where we go, we are a community.
We share what we know
And we love what we do.
In every action we make and everything we do,
The things that people see
Is what makes them know
That we are much more than just our borders;
And we are shaping our community
Through all of our people.
We bring in more people
And we learn and share everything we do.
It is constantly expanding, our community,
And yet because we cannot see
This, we establish our borders,
So that we feel we understand and know.
Yet, we must remember that we don't always have to know
Because we will never know all of the people
That fulfill their duties and extend our "borders"
In every action that they make and do.
By now I hope we are beginning to see
That the world is our community.
Cazenovia has no border that we could possibly know,
Because our community IS our people.
Keep this close to your heart through all that you do and all that you see.
-
Lincklaen Street
Laughter on Lincklaen
The pitter patter of paws
Shimmering street lights
4th of July
Flags fly on porches
Fireworks burst bright at night
The children run wild
Ice Cream
All 3 locations
Full of Sundaes, Specials, Smiles
Close knit over cream
Farmers Market
Saturday mornings
Peaches, pies, flowers and more
Comfort in culture
Purpose:
Always consistent-
Coffee, black, a smidge of room
And a cheery grin
4th of July Parade
The kids and candies
Racing to get immense handfuls
United, full, hearty
Thank You to All Our Participating Poets
We extend our heartfelt thanks to every poet who shared their work with us. Each entry brought creativity, insight, and a unique voice to the theme of “Neighbors.” While not every poem could be selected for the exhibit, we are deeply grateful for the time, thought, and artistry that each of you contributed to this year’s competition.
All Entries: Adult Category
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Anyone that is not you,
Is a neighbor, that’s true!Neighbors are all around,
Many each day can be found.I find neighbors near my home
And I find them when I roam.To and fro, at the grocery store,
Keep a look out and you’ll find more.Wave hello and ask how are you
How’s the weather, what’s in the news?“Need a hand with anything?
Just give me a holler or a ring.”Being kind to those you see,
That’s the neighborly way to be.You’re my neighbor and I am yours,
You can even knock on house doors.Walking around the neighborhood,
Find a new friend I know you could.You don’t have to go very far,
You don’t even have to be in a car.Take a walk and I’m sure you’ll see,
Many more neighbors just like me! -
Around the corner of the house
in the landscaping just beyond the porch
a small bunch of tulip stems reach
up from the wet ground
like ghoulish fingers from a dirty graveThey appear every year.
Ever since my son was new
And he now works in BostonThe other tulip plants in the yard
Were decapitated long ago
By hungry bunnies not knowing
the mourning minds of brand new
homeowners and unseasoned gardenersSo why this one little plant?
So driven with ambition
Untethered to timeI watch from the porch for
Furry bandits to pluck the top burst of color
ready to scare them off
The squirrel silently bounds through the yard
The grackle and robin cut across the air
Helping to keep the neighborhood watch. -
Her roots protrude from the ground;
Politely reminding those who enter
To lightly step;
Both a welcome and a warning.An inky beetle crawls on her skin;
Her leaves rustle in greeting
And provide a refuge
From plodding shoes.A minuscule ant
Crawls in a frenzy;
Carrying the weight of
Responsibility on it’s
Back.Many come and many go;
Sometimes on two legs
And others on four.
She knows what the
Heaviness of humanity;
The cost and the consequences.Some are more frenzied
Than the ants;
The way they leap over
Her roots as they chirp
Louder than the birds.Others enter with
Wide eyes brimming
With tears;
The salty smell
Wrinkling her nose.She asks the wind to
Gently whisper
That all are safe,
All are welcome here
In her forest.She urges all to
Release their woes
And to feel the sun
Instead of their fears;
To know there is more
To life than checking boxes.The sun begins to set;
Night urging all to rest.
She closes her eyes
And wonders who
She will meet tomorrow. -
As you walk, ride, or run along the ground,
listen to the birds, the waters- their sound.
A variety of trees provide fresh air and shade.
Friendliness to other travelers will never fade.
Community causes the trail to touch the sun.
Smiles season the soil, and life becomes fun.
Green grass gives balance for the feet.
Tracks are fellowship footprints on those we meet.
What brings us together is more than the outdoors.
It is the beauty of welcoming all of our neighbors. -
Prologue
“Hoo cooks for you,
Hoo cooks for you aaaaalll?”A full-throated hoot greets us from deep in the Old Growth.
His ‘Forest Sonnet’; resounding in these woods since forever.
The author? None other than the ‘Bard’ !!Owl, that is, Feathered-Prince-of-Burlingame,
Overseer-and-Herald-of-Sherman’s Gulch,
Resident-Raptor-Responsible-for-Rodent-Reduction!Act I
Tonight’s spectacle promises to be wildly frantic,
A Theatre of the Macabre: No time for antics
[The ‘house’ lights have been dimmed]
Then, right on cue, an ill wind
Makes its dramatic entry, starkly
Breezing through forest canopy Darkly.Others join the ‘Bard’, tenors and altos boasting avian voices,
Owl virtuosos, lending their Raptorial choices.
A spine-chilling performance guaranteed!Whinny’s, hoots, a scream and a screech
They’re in cahoots! in their feathered suits
It’s what owls do among Hemlock, Birch and Beech.[ Is it me? or is it getting Really Dark around here?
Did you hear that noise!? Sounded right over there!
Not to fear, most likely a deer!
Just the same, we better stay clear. ]Rodents running, helter skelter, hairs standing on end!
[ Is it me? or is it getting Warm in here? ]
An eerie frightful forest portends!Act II
The Attack is launched after one more Hoot
On wings whose silence is most absolute.[ Forest simmering now! ]
Owl choral crescendos clearly warned all the players:
“Ready or not, here we come!”
This might not end well for some!
Woodland prey Shiver and Scurry, Hide in a Hurry! |
[ As the heat’s turned up even more.]You can likely guess the final score.
(Surely you’ve seen this play before!)
Wait ’til you see this troupe’s encore!Act III Finale
By sun up the “too slow” and “too noisy”
(Torn-by-Talon
and Broken-by-Brutal-Beak)Have been Gobbled and Gulped, Rendered and Reduced
To mere pellets now strewn on forest floor.Pellets, thik wit hair n bone
Thrown
Up n out.Yikes!
Epilogue / post mortem
Final score:
Owls 1
Rodents 0
(Mere lumps of their former selves)In reply to the Bard, methinks,
Alas, nobody took time to do the cooking,
But somehow all was well done!Ain’t that a hoot.
All Entries: High School/College Student Category
-
through the cracks
in the sidewalk
in the story
of a homethrough the heart
of a lover
slowly sprouting
from the loamthe meters
between them
always growing,
never grownfor years the
only distance
was the throw
of a stonewhen they run
far away
from everything
they've knownthey'll think of
eighteen years
spread out
like honeycomb -
A town on a lake
Where people help and support
Lift each other upTown with a cannon
Folks, patriotic and proud
Fireworks galoreA town old as time
The buildings built brick by brick
Thoughts on older daysMemories with friends
Ice cream, pizza, and bowling
Fun will never end -
If you walk in Cazenovia, What Might you see?
People conversing, and speaking free
Freshly cut grass, and a flying bee; down on one knee
Swaying trees that flow with the breezeIf you smell the air, what could there be?
The scent of Pine, and dew drop grass,
The temping smell of Due Pazzi.
Or maybe you'll smell newly pumped gas.Onto the next sense, what could you taste?
A sprinkle of greek? A splash of tea?
Soup from the Brae Loch Inn, eaten with haste.
Italian for the season or ice cream with glee?Now, What could you Touch?
Only as much as you can fit in your clutch. -
A town on the lake-
What a place to live and breathe
-A town on the lake.Oh Owegena-
How on Earth could I leave ya?
-Oh Owegena.Madison County-
Because it holds my dear town
-Madison County.True Tuscarora-
Teeming with neighbors and friends
-True Tuscarora.South of Syracuse
So much of it I adore
-South of Syracuse.Home of the Lakers-
We have no room for Fakers
-Home of the Lakers.How to end this poem?
But one word is all we need,
Cazenovia! -
In this school of good regard and honor,
Our programs seem to have no armor,
Our hobbies and interests are being ripped away,
Our very community begins to sway,What is community if not support and love,
Qualities that flew away like a dove,
Comfort, home, trust, and heart,
Away with a vote forcing us to restart,People seem to have no care,
How is their vote fair?
They don't mind what they take away,
"Hey, as long as I don't have to pay."Those are the ones who can pay the most,
Those are the ones who will soon be a ghost,
This is said not to be mean,
But to be honest and say things how they seem,We cannot force them to mind,
Some people are truly not kind,
But maybe they are unaware,
But, their ignorance is too much to bear -
Nature is our neighbor
Though silly that may sound,
It’s always right beside me
As the lake, the trees, the groundNature is our neighbor
Because it offers me many things
Shade from trees and honeybees
And seasons it always bringsNature is our neighbor
Since neighbors are there for you
Nature is there to nourish me
With fruits and veggies to chewNature is our neighbor
We all live in the same community
With the flora and the fauna
Forever standing in unityNature is our neighbor
And neighbors you must respect
And yet we throw out our trash straight on the grass
Disregarding our effect on the neighbor we were supposed to protectNature is our neighbor
The one that gives and gives and gives
And yet we offer nothing
But we can, so nature livesNature is our neighbor
And we can offer it respect
Respect the lakes, the trees,
the ground
And we’ll be proud in
retrospect -
Fall
A return to school;
alumni, relatives, and a student section gather in support of their teams;
spirits walk the historic cemetery as Halloween approachesWinter
Dense snow falls, and ice is sculpted;
teams practice in the warmth of the school;
snowmobilers and skiers take to trails and forestsSpring
The cannon is surrounded by the townsfolk;
remembering those who have been lost;
the town is green an vibrant once moreSummer
Fireworks over lake dotted speckled with sails;
carriages on the lawn of the old estate;
windows roll down -
Welcome to Nelson! Gleams the sign
Embrace the scenery! Should you find;
All the pieces to make this home mine.
For without them you wander in blind.Will you traverse the trail?
Watch the river flow upstream
Spot the trailing snail
In a world like a dream.Or shall you visit our florist's work?
And Purchase a plant to grow on your own.
Or maybe the at home hair clerk.
Happy days with all of us known.Welcome to Nelson, new Neighbor
I hope you enjoy your labor.
Thank You to Our Sponsor and Judges
The 2025 Poetry on the Trail Contest and exhibit were sponsored by Suzanne Follan Cook and presented by CPF, the Cazenovia Public Library, local poet Eric Evans, and Cazenovia High School English teacher Wendy Everard.