Send any new information to PoetsLane@everestkc.net
Billy Collins, U.S. Poet Laureate(2001-2003)
Cynthia Bryant, Pleasanton Poet Laureate (2005-2007)
(picture taken 4/1/06 at Pleasanton Poetry, Prose & Arts Festival 2006, Pleasanton, California)
Pleasanton Poetry, Prose and Arts Festival 2007
Pleasanton's 3rd PL, Kirk Ridgeway
Pleasanton's 4th PL, Cynthia Bryant
California's Poet Laureate, Al Young
Pleasanton's 2nd PL, Jim Ott
Pleasanton Poetry, Prose and Arts Festival 2007
Poet
Laureates in
California
web.mac.com/joeleon/iWeb/Laureates/Poet
Mark Strand
(1934- ) Strand, born on Prince Edward Island, Canada,
received a BA from Antioch College, a BFA from Yale and an
MA from the University of Iowa. He is the author of 10 books
of poems, including “Blizzard of One,” which won the
Pulitzer Prize in 1999. He has received many honors,
including a MacArthur fellowship and three grants from the
National Endowment for the Arts. Strand also has published a
collection of stories, “Mr. and Mrs. Baby,” many
translations and several anthologies. He currently teaches
in the Committee on Social Thought at the University of
Chicago.
Joseph Brodsky
(1940-1996) Brodsky, born in Leningrad, left school at age
15 and worked at many occupations, including a milling
machine operator and a geologist-prospector. He began
writing poetry at age 18 and studied with Russian poet Anna
Akhmatova. After Brodsky was exiled in 1972, he came to the
United States. He wrote nine volumes of poetry, including
the 1980 acclaimed collection “A Part of Speech.” His 1986
collection of essays, “Less Than One,” won the National Book
Critic’s Award for criticism. He received the Nobel Prize
for Literature in 1987.
Mona Van Duyn
(1921-2004) Van Duyn, born in Waterloo, Iowa, received a
bachelor’s degree from the University of Northern Iowa and a
master’s from the University of Iowa. There were six women
Consultants in Poetry, but Van Duyn was the first woman Poet
Laureate. From 1947-67, she co-edited and co-published
Perspective: A Quarterly of Literature. Her poetry
collection, “Near Changes,” earned her the 1991 Pulitzer
Prize. Other honors include the 1971 National Book Award for
“To See, To Take,” and the 1971 Bollingen Prize.
Rita Dove
(1952- ) Dove, born in Akron, Ohio, was a 1970 Presidential
Scholar as one of the 100 best high school graduates in the
United States that year. She received a bachelor’s from
Miami University of Ohio and a master’s from the University
of Iowa. Her poetry collection, “Thomas and Beulah,” won the
1987 Pulitzer Prize. She also wrote “Grace Notes” (1989), a
volume of short stories, and “Through the Ivory Gate”
(1992), a novel. Her most recent book of poetry is “American
Smooth” (2004). Dove is a professor of English at the
University of Virginia.
Robert Hass
(1941- ) Hass was born in San Francisco. He received his
B.A. from St. Mary’s College in California and his M.A. and
Ph.D. from Stanford University. His first collection of
poetry, “Field Guide” (1973), won the Yale Series of Younger
Poets Award. His collection of essays, “Twentieth Century
Pleasures,” won the National Book Critics Award in 1985.
Hass also has helped poet Czeslaw Milosz translate his
works. Hass teaches at the University of California at
Berkeley.
Robert Pinsky
(1940- ) Pinsky, born in New Jersey, is the first Poet
Laureate to serve an unprecedented three consecutive terms.
He attended Rutgers College and Stanford University, where
he held a Stegner Fellowship in Creative Writing. He is the
author of six books of poetry, including “Jersey Rain”
(2000) and “The Figured Wheel: New and Collected Poems
1966-1996.” In 1994, his translation of Dante’s “Inferno”
became a Book-of-the-Month Club selection and a bestseller.
Pinsky is poetry editor of Slate, an Internet magazine, and
a teacher in the creative writing program at Boston
University.
Stanley Kunitz
Kunitz served as Consultant in Poetry
from 1974-76.
Billy Collins
(1941- ) Collins was born in New York
City. He is one of America’s
best-selling poets. His books include
“Sailing Alone Around the Room: New and
Selected Poems” in 2001, “Picnic,
Lightning” in 1998, and “The Art of
Drowning” in 1995. In October 2004,
Collins was the inaugural recipient of
the Poetry Foundation’s Mark Twain Award
for humorous poetry. He has served as a
Literary Lion of the New York Public
Library and he is a distinguished
professor of English at Lehman College,
City University of New York, where he
has taught for the past 30 years.
Louise Glück
Glück also served as a Special
Bicentennial Consultant in 2000.
Ted Kooser
(1939- ) Kooser, who was born in Ames,
Iowa, received his bachelor's degree
from Iowa State and his master's in
English from the University of Nebraska
at Lincoln. He is the author of 10
collections of poetry, including
"Delights & Shadows," which won the
Pulitzer Prize in 2005. His other honors
include two National Endowment for the
Arts fellowships, a Pushcart Prize and
the Stanley Kunitz Prize from Columbia.
He is a professor in the English
department at the University of Nebraska
at Lincoln
Donald Hall
(1928- ) Hall, who was born in New
Haven, Conn., received his bachelor’s
degree from Harvard College and a
bachelor’s in literature from Oxford
University. He has published 15 books of
poetry, including his latest, “White
Apples and the Taste of Stone: Selected
Poems 1946-2006.” He has also written 20
books of prose, children’s books and
plays. He received the National Book
Critics Circle Award and the Los Angeles
Times Book Award for his poetry book
“The One Day” (1988). He lives in New
Hampshire.
Al
Young -California
Poet Laureate (May
31,
1939,
Ocean Springs, Mississippi) is an
American poet, novelist and writer of musical memoirs. He
was named
poet laureate of
California by the governor
Arnold Schwarzenegger in May 12,
2005.Young is a graduate of the University of California, Berkeley. He lives in Palo Alto, California.
His book Bodies and Soul: Musical Memoirs (1981) won the American Book Award.
Al Young's Net http://www.cac.ca.gov/?id=243
MARTHA MELTZER-PLEASANTON POET LAUREATE (2007-2009)begins in June
LOCAL
LIBRARIAN LANDS LAUREATESHIP
An Interview with Myself
by Martha Meltzer
Martha Meltzer, Alisal Elementary School’s long-time librarian has been selected as Pleasanton’s 5th Poet Laureate. She was interviewed in her own head on a cloudy Bay Area morning in mid-May.
Q: How long have you and your family lived in Pleasanton?
A: We’ve been here since 1996. My husband Bill is a project manager and my daughter Emily is in school in San Diego studying Chemical Engineering.
Q: That sounds fascinating. What is Chemical Engineering?
A: Beats me.
Q: Okay, moving along…how long have you been writing and how would you describe your poetry?
A: I’ve been writing for many years, mostly
modern free verse. It’s just within the last few years that I decided I wanted to share my writing publicly.
Q: So you came out of the closet?
A: In a literary sense, yes.
Q: Have you been published?
A: Yes. My poems have been included in the
San Francisco Street Sheet, the California Quarterly, and the Las Positas Anthology. I also participated in Cynthia Bryant’s Poems for the Iraqi people and Connie Post’s Ekphrasis poetry and art exhibit.
Q: Why do you think we need Poet Laureates?
A: The question is really, why we need poetry? Part of the human experience is the need to communicate. Once we get past the basic grunt, people want to communicate in the most effective and creative manner possible. For some that takes the form of visual arts, for others music, but for me it’s poetry. I want people to know and that poetry exists in all sorts of aspects and forms. A Laureate lets others know that there is a commitment to artistic communication in this city.
Q: So, now as Poet Laureate what are your plans and goals?
A: If it ain’t broke, I don’t plan on fixing it. So, I will continue being a part of the wonderful Poetry and Arts Festival in the Spring. I also plan on continuing the Century House Poetry series. I would also like to establish venues and workshops for children and young adults to explore poetry. I’m looking forward to the next two years and working with the community.
Connie Post-Poet Laureate Livermore, California (2005-2009).JPG)
Connie Post is the first and current Poet Laureate of Livermore. Her term will extend to May of 2009. She has been a published poet for over twenty years, and has appeared in many anthologies and journals. Some of these include: White Pelican Review, Monterey Poetry Review, California Quarterly, Carquinez Poetry Review, Mid West Poetry Review, Mobius, Song of the San Joaquin and others. Her work has also appeared in a number of parenting magazines and associated publications She has six books of poetry and has presented at many Bay Area readings.”. She is a two time winner of the Grand Prize Lydia Wood Award at the Las Positas Spring Arts contest. She also earned First Prize in the Montclair Poetry Meet in August 2003, the B Jo Kinnick award 1996 and the Pleasanton Poetry and Arts Festival in 2003. In addition, she has earned several other awards in local, statewide and national contests. In October of 2007 her sixth book of poetry “City of Words” was released. This is a unique collection of nineteen poems Connie has written for civic and city events in her town. In May 2005 she presented her poetry on the nationally syndicated radio program “West Coast Live”. She presents poetry and discussion on the subject of parenting, poetry and autism to local colleges and affiliated groups. www.poetrypost.com
Joel Fallon- Poet Laureate Benicia, California (2006-2008)
Rod Clark-Poet Laureate Pacifica, California (2003-2006)
Born in Clinton, Mass., August 18, 1919.
Attended elementary school in Massachusetts, middle school in Indiana, high school in Colorado, and college in Texas. Received PhD in Human Behavior from the University of Texas in 1952.
Joined a research team at Ft. Ord, California, studying motivation and morale. Lead a team to the war zone in Korea. The army responded to his report, “We already know that, and besides it isn’t true.”
At San Francisco State University for 27 years, taught courses in education and adolescent psychology.
Moved to Pacifica in 1959 with wife, Sydney, and two sons, Karl and Aren. Became active in the local arts and theater. Served on school board in early sixties. Recently has chaired the Cultural Art Commission for four years.
Began writing poetry in high school. Edited college magazine for three years and so had a resource to publish many pieces. Serving in the merchant marine during World War II also continued to write. However, much of this material was lost. After retirement in 1983, published a collection, Rain and Other Facts of Life. Following came More About Rain and Life, Being Seventy-seven, and It Seemed So at Some Time.
About half of the writing ranges through the traditional poetic forms, particularly sonnets and blank verse. Fond of dramatic monologues.
Has lead the Pacifica Poetry Forum (a monthly read-around session) for many years. Has been active in presenting the Pacifica Poetry Festival for ten years. Reads for local organizations, open mics, and study groups. Has received awards in contests.
Appointed Pacifica’s first poet laureate by the City Council in 2003.
Ursula T. Gibson, Poet Laureate of Sunland-Tujunga, California, 2006-2008.
I am the fourth Poet Laureate for our community, and all three former PLs are still actively participating in poetry events in our community. I was selected and installed for a two-year term on March 19, 2006, and my calendar for PL activities is nicely active. My book, "The Blossoms of the Night-Blooming Cereus" was published in 2005 by Publish America, Inc. ($16.95 + tax + s&h; www.Amazon.com , or Barnes & Noble bookstores), and my book, "Be Prepared, Don't Mumble, Look UP! or How to Read Poetry Aloud" was published in 2003 by Dry Creek Press, C/o jshuman@telis.org, Modesto ($10.00 + s&h). I was Poetry Editor from 1997 to November 2005 for Poetic Voices (www.poeticvoices.com) which ceased further publication because the Executive Editor is in Honduras on a church mission. I read between 150 and 350 poems every month for that on-line poetry journal, to select those that were published. The archives are still available at its website.
Chip
Wendt, Poet Laureate Healdsburg, California
was born in 1958, lived in Japan as a child as well as the Philadelphia area. He has also lived on a Virginia commune, in a hut in New Mexico, and with a cult in southern California and Florida. He received a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy of Religion from Princeton University. Writing poetry since his teen years, he is the author of 4 poetry chapbooks, most recently, Love is Big. He is also the founder of Running Wolf Press, a publisher of Sonoma County poets. He hosts the Third Sunday Reading at City Hall in Healdsburg. He is also a father, a husband, a flamenco guitarist, and has lived in Healdsburg for 23 years.
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Geri Digiorno, Poet
Laureate of Sonoma County California:
Bio for Geri Digiorno
Author of the new book of poems
White Lipstick
from Red Hen Press
Geri Digiorno was born the seventh of nine daughters in the small Mormon
Community of Logan Utah. Desperate times forced her family to move to San
Francisco during the height of the Great Depression. Growing up poor and
experiencing adolescence in San Francisco was tumultuous and fraught with vivid
characters, a wellspring of literary inspiration.
She documents it all with an unblinking honesty and affection. Her poems
speak of growing up female during the 50s in America. She tells of her teenage
pregnancy and stay in a home for unwed mothers; of her subsequent marriage to
her child¹s father a year later; and of the births of their second and third
children by the time she was 21. We learn of her stifling isolation in the
suburbs with an absent husband and their eventual divorce; of her second
marriage and adventures with an irascible tavern owner until his sudden death 11
years later; and of her emergence as a unique poet and painter.
Geri¹s artistic credo is simple: keep it honest. She has, and we are all the
richer for it.
____________________________________________________________________________
Poet and artist Geri Digiorno is founder and director of The Petaluma Poetry
Walk, an annual literary event that will celebrate its 10th anniversary
September 18th, 2005.
Geri's publishing credits include Paterson Literary Review, Carbuncle, 33
Poetry Review, Cyanosis, North Coast Review, Tomcat, Tight, Bogg, Women's
Voices, Sonoma Mandala, The Noe Valley Voice and The Haight Ashbury Review. A
chapbook of her poems, I¹m Tap Dancing, was published by Norton Coker Press.
PO BOX13, Petaluma,CA.94953 and my e-mail adageri@aol.com
MODESTO POET LAUREATE(2004-2008)
Sam Pierstorff is currently the Poet
Laureate of Modesto, CA. He was appointed in 2004, at just 28 years old, and
was unanimously reappointed this year through 2008. He teaches English
composition and creative writing fulltime at Modesto Junior College, CA and is
the founding editor of the literary journal, Quercus Review (
www.quercusreview.com ).
He has published more than 125 poems in numerous journals throughout the U.S.,
including Rattle, Pearl, Slipstream, Nerve Cowboy, Chiron Review (cover
feature), Louisiana Review, Sidewalks, Spillway, and many others. He received
his MFA from CSU Long Beach, and his latest collection, The Albatross Lives, was
nominated for two Pushcart Prizes and was favorably reviewed by X.J. Kennedy who
wrote, "Sam Pierstorff writes clear, straightforward, no-nonsense poems, full of
infectious humor and strong feeling."
In the fall semester (September), as part of the MJC READS initiative, he
coordinates a poetry reading by well known authors, which have included Dorianne
Laux, Joseph Millar, Brian Turner, et al.
He is also the final editor and judge for Quercus Review Press’ Annual Poetry
Book Award, which publishes one book per year by an individual author, and he is
one of the founding members and operatives for the Guerilla Poetics Project, a
unique initiative to put poetry back into the hands of people (www.guerillapoetics.org
).
Additionally, he hosts a wildly popular monthly poetry slam, Slam on Rye (www.slamonrye.com
), as well as an annual Poetry Slam Invitational known as The ILL
LiST, which brings the nation's top ten slam poets together to compete in a
sold-out 600-seat theatre in downtown Modesto.
Although heavily influenced and associated with slam poetry, his real love is
the printed word and the rich imagery and subtleties found in the small presses.
Upcoming Events:
Slam on Rye, Modesto’s Monthly Poetry Slam,
2nd Wednesdays of Every Month, 7:30pm
Prospect Theatre, 520 Scenic Dr. Modesto, CA 95350
www.slamonrye.com
The ILL LiST Poetry Slam Invitational
Saturday, December 9th, 8pm
State Theatre, 1307 J Street, Modesto, CA 95354
www.thestate.org
UKIAH POET LAUREATE
David Smith-Ferri
SAN LUIS OBISPO POET LAUREATE 2007
This year the board of the San Luis Obispo Poetry Festival
selected Rosemary
Wilvert as the Poet Laureate for the
23rd Annual San Luis Obispo Festival
and for the city of San Luis Obispo for the year 2007.
Rosemary has been very involved in our poetry community for many years. She has hosted a NightWriters workshop for up to twenty local poets, twice
monthly in her home for eleven years. She edited two anthologies for the groups
best work, Where Poets Gather, Vol. 1 and 2. She has been published in four of
the Santa Barbara Community of Voices anthologies, Café Solo, HopeDance, Solo
Café, and The Tribune. Her essay on Wadsworth was published in Robert Pinsky's
American's Favorite Poems. For ten years she has been the poetry editor for
HopeDance. As an English teacher, Rosemary has taught poetry at junior and
senior high and community college levels.
Order of Poets Laureate from Present:
Gloria L. Velasquez - 2006
Jane Elsdon - 2005
Michael McLaughlin - 2004
Kevin Patrick Sullivan - 2003
Anne Candelaria - 2002
Hernan Castellano-Giron -2001
Glenna Luschei - 2000
Ray Clark Dickson the 1st Poet Laureate in 1999
kpsslopoet@charter.net
(805)547-1318
LAKE COUNTY POET LAUREATE
Sandra Wade
SAN RAMON POET LAUREATE
Patricia Perry
BRENTWOOD POET LAUREATE
Diane Lando
SACRAMENTO POET LAUREATE
Julia Conner
CROCKETT POET LAUREATE
Ruth Blakeney
ALAMEDA POET LAUREATE
Mary Rudge
Poet
Laureate Placentia Library District
2003-present -- consecutive 1-year terms
Meredith Karen Laskow
Present and past programs have included: Adult Poetry Workshops; Teen Poetry;
America's Favorite Poem Project; open readings; and Senior Outreach, which
brings poetry into local senior centers, senior housing, and assisted living
centers.
meredkl-poet@yahoo.com
Read a poem:
http://members.tripod.com
/meredithbead-ivil/id23.html
http://www.ocregister.com/ocregister/news/local/article_1095950.php