​        I have the great honor of serving as the inaugural Poet Laureate of Needham, MA, with my term 2024-2027.  This role has included many workshops, presentations, and classroom visits, as well as organizing for the inclusion of poetry in some official town events, a poetry walk, the annual Needham Open Studios art event, and the first ever "Needham Poems!" showcase.  You can see more information on the official Needham Poet Laureate web page. 
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This page shows poems that were written collaboratively with groups during programs I facilitated.
​(Find poems I wrote in the role of poet laureate here.)

The Sidewalks of Needham
A Crowd-Sourced Poem  in which the contributions of 90 Needhamites of all ages are woven together by AEGNydam
(October-November 2025)
 
On the sidewalks of Needham
Neighbors greet each other with bright smiles,
Friends stop to talk together,
Strangers gesture “hello” as they pass,
Enveloped in a welcoming aura,
Accepting all cultures and backgrounds,
In a feeling of belonging.
Neighbors help each other with kindness and caring,
A comforting phone call, or stopping by just to say “hi,”
And telling each other “It’s gonna be okay,”
Building a warm community of connections
Linked by the sidewalks of Needham.
 
Over the sidewalks of Needham
Canopies of oak and pine shelter
Squirrels, rabbits, and chipmunks.
We share our yard with turkeys, deer, and the occasional coyote.
The trees change with the seasons:
Spring blossom, summer green,
Autumn red and yellow foliage,
Winter grey lace against the sky.
The waterfowl on Rosemary Lake
Are neighbors, too, greeting those who pass
In four seasons’ weather beneath the maples
Along the sidewalks of Needham.
 
Long before the sidewalks of Needham,
The river circled us on three sides.
It shapes us, drains us, and soothes us.
Memories of family members rest in the Needham cemeteries.
From the grandfather in the cricket league that named Cricket Field,
And all the generations before us,
Family vibes still ring out here.
Memories of homes torn down and replaced
For others to make new memories,
While school memories of all kinds
Flow on like the river,
Which will keep flowing
Long after the sidewalks of Needham.
 
Up and down the sidewalks of Needham
We start families,
Watch the world anew as our children grow,
Playing in the streets with friends,
Walking dogs.
We share block parties, and soccer,
Sacraments and faith centers, church bells ringing downtown,
Train horns reminding us of our easy access to Boston,
Close to schools, pool, and library.
We share traditions that go on and on,
Fireworks and parades, blue tree lighting,
Friday night football under the lights,
Fun on the Common,
The enchanting Martini Junction in the town forest,
Celebrating Sunita Williams.
The sidewalks of Needham are
Secure enough to leave doors unlocked,
A safe place, a haven for our family,
And then, as children leave,
Where we can be independent as we age in life’s journey.
It is good to us in all stages of life, anchored
By the sidewalks of Needham.
 
Connected by the sidewalks of Needham
People are active and helpful,
Feeling responsible for the town,
With the opportunity to have a voice in town politics.
There is citizen engagement and
Community involvement in so many activities,
From the high school
(With amazing Superintendent Gutekanst)
To Needham Free Public Library
(Loving that Needham has a Poet Laureate),
The Center at the Heights, and the beautiful brick Town Hall.
So many local small businesses,
(Volante Farms, Ray’s New Garden,
Sweet Basil, Masala Art, and more),
Running into a store and knowing people,
All along the sidewalks of Needham.
 
Happy and thankful to drive home to Needham,
Once your senses register familiar sights, sounds, smells,
A sense of tranquility can’t be put into words, but
You exhale and think “I’m home,”
Woven and held in the comforting lattice
Of the sidewalks of Needham.

Joy is a rainbow-colored koala,
Enjoying the sun-dappled scenery from its palm tree on the beach.
It hides when I’m sad, but when it comes out,
It jumps around, spinning,
Always smiling, dancing to the ocean’s beat.
Hanging inside me, it gives me a hug
From the inside out.

Written by Ms Gannon's 4th Grade Class with AEGNydam (March 2025)
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Sadness is a snail
With a shell like an anchor on its back.
Lemon that makes you pucker, onion that makes you cry,
Leaving a sticky trail of memories,
Tears that glisten, sparkling in sunlight.
Cooped up inside, helpless,
It slows me down.
I can’t keep up.
​
​Written by Ms McQuivey's 4th Grade Class with AEGNydam (March 2025)
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Relief is a giraffe,
Fluffy, blue and orange,
Grazing on leaves peacefully.
I am riding tall on its powerful back,
Standing out, free,
Above the trees and my troubles.

Written by Mr Oliker's 4th Grade Class with AEGNydam (March 2025)
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Excitement is a troop of yellow monkeys
Making my house a rainbow jungle.
“Ooh ooh ah ah,” crazy like a broken speaker,
Going bananas.
Jumping up and down, climbing on my head like a tree,
Climbing the walls, bouncing in the bathroom,
Charging with energy.
“Come on, let’s go!” they giggle,
Eager to be with me.

​Written by Ms Boyson's 4th Grade Class with AEGNydam (March 2025)
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​Joy is a golden bunny,
Bright like spring’s tulips and daffodils,
With the scent of cookies, vanilla and cinnamon.
Whispering softly, or giggling with happy squeals,
Blowing kisses like rainbow bubbles,
It scatters laughter like splashing in a bath
That cleanses away sadness.
Everyone’s joy bunny is a little different,
Maybe pink or teal, maybe with wings,
But always something soft to hold onto.
Even when you can’t always feel it,
It stays with you always.

Written by Ms McQuivey's 4th Grade Class with AEGNydam (April 2026)
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​Calmness is sitting on the soft lap
Of a huge blue panda
On the tropical beach, warm breeze smelling of roses
And ice cream,
Gentle waves softly splashing, and clouds floating
In a pink sky at sunset.
As the panda meditates in silence,
Beautiful birds, dancing peacefully in the air,
Come carrying bamboo for the panda
And a good book for you,
Singing a melody of peace and calm.

Written by Mr Oliker's 4th Grade Class with AEGNydam (April 2026)

​Determination is
A lion on the hunt, desperate to catch its prey,
Always ready for everything;
A tiger peering through the tall, dry grass,
Ready to pounce, fiery and bold to everyone;
A cheetah, fierce as it sprints over jagged rocks,
Never resting or giving up
Until it gets its goal;
A snow leopard leaping over drifts of frost and ice;
A black panther finding its way through dark night
With golden eyes.
Despite any obstacle blocking it,
Determination is the king of beasts,
That can do anything to complete its journey.

Written by Ms Raia's 4th Grade Class with AEGNydam (April 2026)

Remembering the Beach
Written by participants at the Memory Café with AEGNydam ( July 2026)
 
I’m relaxing on my brightly striped towel.
Well-worn and soft, its breeze-blown corners
Flip sand across my legs
Sticky with coconut-scented sunscreen,
When I see the seal.
Its slippery head pops up,
Whiskered, bald, black eyes human
As it looks its question:
Will you play?  Come swim with me.
But I’m afraid of sharks.
 
I’m relaxing on my brightly striped towel,
Well-worn and soft.  Glass of cool rosé in hand,
I watch the sky as its brightly striped colors
Shift yellow to pink, and slowly darken.
All questions can wait as time stands still
Beneath the sunset’s majesty.
I want to hold it, but it slips into night.
Every sunset is different, but all the sunsets
Are held in memory together,
Calling me back to the scene,
Well-worn and soft, where I’m calm,
Free, at peace, and, for this moment,
Afraid of nothing.

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Thanksgiving
Written by participants at the Memory Café with AEGNydam  (November 2025)

We enter by the side door,
Greeted by the welcoming smell
That warms with comforting memories
And anticipation of family.
Connecting over high school football and turkey,
We savor the flavors of these relationships:
Tartness of cranberry,
Comfort of mashed potatoes and stuffing –
Even the green beans and jello mold
Playing their part in the familiar feast.
There is a unity, warm and rich as gravy,
That pulls all our different flavors together
Into a savory celebration,
Sweet as candied yams,
Round and whole as pumpkin pie.
We give thanks.
 
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Aging
Written by the attendees at a program on Great Poetry Reading Day with AEGNydam at the Center at the Heights (Council on Aging), (April  2025)

Aging is
Challenging
In so many ways.
Aging is
Living
In so many ways.
Arthritic hands
Can still make
A fist,
Bread,
Poems.
Arthritic hands
Can still knit
Scarves,
And people
Together
In so many ways.