Winter chose the theme of "Poetry" for this mural which was originally hung in Central Grammar School. The mural was moved to City Hall after the school was converted to apartments. Like many of Winter's works, "Poetry" is an allegory with figures representing different aspects of the theme. The figure that is standing represents "thought" while the figure with the book is "oration." "Rhythm" is pouring water while "harmony" sits with a lyre. "Life" is trimming the lamp while "imagination" sits on a winged horse. Looking on are two of the fathers of poetry, Dante and Virgil.

Like the Mulhaupt murals nearby, Poetry was originally painted for the Central Grammar School and was installed at the end of a long second floor corridor. Approaching it from a distance, the over life size stature of the figures emphasized the heroic and immortal subject matter. Winter’s idealistic views manifested in this educational vision of artistic inspiration. As it exists here, the Central Grammar installation was designed to be around a door.

Like many of Winter’s works, Poetry is an allegorical piece, a symbolic depiction of the spirit of poetry. Winter used figures from classical mythology, as well as Dante and Virgil, the fathers of poetry as his subjects. At least two of the figures are Greek muses -- Clio, the Muse of history holds a scroll; Terpsichore, with a Lyre, was the muse of dance and choral songs. Between them is a woman pouring water from a jug, perhaps symbolizing rhythm, perhaps poetic fertility. The figure of Life trims a lamp, bringing light to the mind, and imagination is on a winged horse, a horse of fantasy and flight. Dante and Virgil stand to the left, serious and confident men.

Note the intense color in this mural, as opposed to the muted tones in Mulhaupt’s. The light is always bright in Winter’s murals in City Hall, emblematic of the idealism and belief in humanity he depicts.