Cindy Luong's installation at the Seattle Central Library.

For National Poetry Month 2024, Civic Poet Shin Yu Pai is launching Poetry in Place. This public poetry project includes the work of five local artists on the theme of Seattle places and sustainability at sites all across the city.

The Seattle Public Libraries
by Cindy Luong

On hold —

Eighteen scorching Book Bingo summers at
The Seattle Public Libraries

Within the latticed windows of the Central Branch,
My fourth grade team placed third at the Global Reading Challenge
We cried boiling tears of defeat as
The autumn Seattle rain mourned with us

Hold paused —

I've gained fourteen inches and
Outgrew the South Park librarian
Her hair short like our winters
Her smile
Like a spring day at the UW quad

Check out —

One book
Passed
Loved
And passed on

Through setbacks and steps forward
The libraries are
Here
For me
For you
For us

Check in.

Visit the Seattle Public Library’s Central and South Park branches to see Luong’s poem. You can also download the postcard and poster versions for yourself on our website.

Cindy Luong works for the Seattle Youth Employment Program (SYEP) and makes art for fun.

Learn more about Civic Poet Shin Yu Pai’s public poetry campaign. 

Designed by Jayme Yen. This public poetry program is made possible by the Academy of American Poets with funds from the Mellon Foundation. This project was also supported by The Windrose Fund.