ON THIS FIRST DAY of spring, I want to share a poem I wrote in 2011. My spring-themed submission for the Roadside Poetry Project seasonal competition won. And, as a result, my poem was printed on billboard-sized signs, then placed along a roadway just off Interstate 94 in Fergus Falls in west central Minnesota. Some 100,000 vehicles a month passed by my poem.
Writing good poetry is not easy. And when you must write within guidelines, the process is even more challenging. Roadside Poetry contest rules called for only four lines of poetry with a maximum of 20 characters per line. The poem needed to fit on the signs and be readable from a distance.
Somehow, my brain managed to create what I consider a succinct and visually-strong poem defining spring. On this first day of spring, enjoy my short seasonal poem. Happy spring!
© Copyrights 2011 and 2025 Audrey Kletscher Helbling
Minnesota Prairie Roots 
I love this! How exciting it must have been to see your words gracing those billboards. Welcome, spring!
It was exciting to have my poetry out there in this unique, public way.
what a wonderful welcome to spring, Audrey! you are such a gift to your community.
Thank you, Beth. I appreciate your always supportive and loving words.
Marvelous!
Thank you, Michael.
Nicely done! Succinct can be hard. Reminds me of those old Burma shave signs that used to appear along smaller roads. Some were still around when I was a kid…
Yes, they are a bit like Burma Shave signs. Glad you enjoyed my billboard poem.
I like your succinct poem about spring! Happy spring.
Thank you, Valerie. I hope you had a wonderful first day of spring birthday.
Happy Spring! How wonderful to be able to see your lovely poetry along the roadside. I can imagine it brightened everyone’s day that drove past. 😊
It was a joy to see my poem there. So glad I could share my words in such a unique way.
I vote that we should have more poetry on Billboards! beautiful as always
It would certainly be better than some of the billboards out there. If only there was funding available for more poetry billboards.