Image credit: Associated Press
What’s the Poet Laureate?
“The Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry to the Library of Congress serves as the nation’s official lightning rod for the poetic impulse of Americans. During his or her term, the Poet Laureate seeks to raise the national consciousness to a greater appreciation of the reading and writing of poetry.” - loc.gov
How much does he or she make per year?
$35,000
What does the position entail?
Each Poet Laureate makes the position their own, according to their particular interests–as long as they’re promoting poetry, it’s cool.
What other people have had the position?
See the list here.
What’s good to know about Natasha Trethewey?
She’s one of the younger people to be appointed Laureate. She grew up in Mississippi in a bi-racial family and much of that experience, along with a fascination with history, informs her poetry. Her New York Times profile notes that she is “the first Southerner to hold the post since Robert Penn Warren, the original laureate, and the first African-American since Rita Dove in 1993. “ Check out “Flounder” at the Poetry Foundation site to get a taste of what she writes. On the surface, it’s the story of a girl fishing with her grandmother, and just below the surface, a reflection on one family’s attitudes to daily navigation between the worlds of black and white. It’s filled with vivid images and a rhyme scheme that sneaks up on you:
“Aunt Sugar rolled her nylons down
around each bony ankle,and I rolled down my white knee socksletting my thin legs dangle,circling them just above waterand silver backs of minnowsflitting here then there betweenthe sun spots and the shadows.”
flounder photo by TenSafeFrogs on flickr
Where can I read more about Natasha Trethewey?
The Library of Congress has an online web guide here, with a very complete bibliography.
And our own library system has books for you to check out:
Is there a Pennsylvania Poet Laureate?
There was–from 1993-2003, Samuel Hazo was the Poet Laureate of Pennsylvania, until he was told that Pennsylvania did not need that position anymore.
Which means you could crown yourself Pennsylvania’s Poet Laureate today! Or compete in the Young Steel Poetry Slam for similar glory.
-Tessa, CLP – East Liberty
Filed under: Poetry Tagged: | history, library of congress, poet laureate, poetry, poetry slam
