“The winning poems were so rich in precise, vivid details,” Stokes recalled, reflecting on which poems stood out for her most. “They [the poets] really were nature lovers. They could see the animals, they could see the plants growing, and they were able to capture that in words…Tollgate really came to life in their poems.”

Kendall Stilwell, an undergraduate student interested in veterinary medicine, personified the drain itself in her poem “The Drain Remembers”. Through this perspective, she shows readers how the drain sustains life, how it holds the city’s memories, and how it reflects both the natural and human activity around it.

“I’m kind of just hoping people who see my poem don’t overlook it,” Stilwell said. “That they embrace it [Tollgate] for what it truly is and what it does for the environment and the water system.”

Stilwell’s poem is a gentle reminder of the important role Tollgate plays in protecting the city’s water system. It captures stormwater runoff and uses natural wetland processes to remove pollutants, improving water quality before it continues through the watershed.

“The first line I adore,” Stokes said of Stilwell’s poem. “‘I am a mirror that swallowed the sky…’ She captures the way in which water becomes mirror-like and reflects everything around it. It’s a beautiful poem.”

Jasmine C. Snow, a master’s student in journalism whose research focuses on media messaging, representation, and community reporting, was motivated to submit her poem “Ducks” by a desire to reconnect with nature after time spent indoors. 

“Some of my friends and loved ones are really into environmental justice, but I’ve been stuck inside for so long with my job and what I do [as a student],” Snow said. “I wanted to reconnect with that and think more deeply about what has been important to me in the last couple of years.”