The Beltline Chronicles: A Poetic Tribute by Robert Barsky

When Robert Barsky, a poet, Vanderbilt professor, and Guggenheim Fellow, first arrived in Atlanta from Montreal, he found himself drawn to the Beltline. "This is absolutely everything I love about a city - it's diverse, it's free, it's open," he remembers thinking on his first visit. Over three years, he immersed himself in the Beltline experience, spending countless hours exploring its paths and recording its stories. These adventures sparked something special: a 68-page poem that would become The Beltline Chronicles. 

Drawing inspiration from Lord Byron's epic "Don Juan" and famous literary quests, The Beltline Chronicles is an adventure poem honoring the living history of spaces along the Atlanta Beltline. At the heart of this project is George, a poet inspired by Lord Byron, who wanders the Beltline, encountering art installations, people, and stories that shape his journey. Like Dante in "The Divine Comedy" or Homer's "Odyssey," George's journey reveals bigger truths along the way.  

George’s journey shines a light on the many boundaries we cross on the Beltline – intellectual, historical, psychological, and physical. As Barsky notes, some borders are "nefarious," like those that historically divided neighborhoods from one another. Through George's observations, the poem explores how the Beltline, once a commercial railway track, has been transformed into a space where communities can connect and come together. Along the way, George invokes Atlanta's rich history of social justice, drawing on the words of Frederick Law Olmsted, W.E.B. DuBois, Martin Luther King Jr., and others who have envisioned a more just future, while acknowledging the work that remains to be done. 

To bring George's adventures to life, Barsky collaborated with local artist Susan Ker-Seymer, who created abstract works for each canto, and Lauren McKee, a former student of his, who illustrated George in various guises. McKee's illustrations capture George as a “lovable every-person,”– sometimes viewed from behind, sometimes in shadow, always inviting viewers to see themselves in his journey. 

The project has evolved into a multi-dimensional experience, with portions of the poem now installed as mounted signs along both the Eastside and Westside trails. The complete poem can be accessed through QR codes on the signs, leading to a dedicated site within Contours Collaborations, Barsky’s digital journal hosted by MIT's Knowledge Futures Group. The poem was also performed by theater artist Ismail bin Conner, alongside contemporary dance performances by Kennesaw State University dancers, choreographed by Marsha Barsky. 

Next time you're on the Beltline, take a moment to discover The Beltline Chronicles yourself. Like George, you might find yourself noticing the native grasses, tiny doors, street art, or the unexpected ways people bring the space to life. As Barsky suggests, the Beltline is a space that invites us all to pause, look around, and experience Atlanta in new ways. 

The 2023-24 Atlanta Beltline Art exhibition is sponsored by Delta Air Lines and Norfolk Southern at the Gold level; Jamestown – Ponce City Market, Kaiser Permanente, and Northside Hospital at the Silver level; and Cox Enterprises at the Bronze level. This program is supported in part by the City of Atlanta Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs.

This program is supported in part by the City of Atlanta Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs. Major funding for this organization is provided by the Fulton County Board of Commissioners. This program is supported in part by Georgia Council for the Arts through the appropriations of the Georgia General Assembly. Georgia Council for the Arts also receives support from its partner agency – the National Endowment for the Arts. This project is supported in part by an award from the National Endowment for the Arts. To find out more about how National Endowment for the Arts grants impact individuals and communities, visit www.arts.gov.