True beauty is never fleeting, which is why poetry
demands thoughtful reading - as well as the gift of
time.[i]
On Saturday,
September 21 at 1 pm the Massanutten Regional Library’s Main Branch is offering
a public program featuring Sofia Starnes, the current Poet Laureate of
Virginia. Virginians and the
Commonwealth, one of a few states to so honor poets, have a long history of
providing encouragement, community, and support for poets and for those who
enjoy reading poetry. The umbrella for
local poets and poetry readers is the Poetry Society of Virginia, established
in 1923 and in its 90th year.
The Poetry Society of Virginia
In
1923 at the suggestion of a College of William and Mary professor, Dr. C.E.
Feidelsohn, the Poetry Society of Virginia[ii]
was founded. The Society’s mission is to
“encourage excellence in writing, reading, study, and appreciation of poetry.” With a current membership of more than 400
people, the PSV is one of the largest state poetry societies in the
nation. Over the years the Society has
sponsored poetry contests, provided poetry teaching guides, and published
anthologies of poetry by Virginians.
Since 1997, the Society participates with the Governor and the Virginia
Commission for the Arts in the selection of the Poet Laureate of Virginia. The 1997 legislation defined that the duties
and powers of the Poet Laureate are “to encourage the exchange of arts
information and perspectives. The poet
laureate is not obligated to write any verse.”[iii]
Poet Laureates of Virginia
The
position of Poet Laureate was established on December 18, 1936 by the Virginia
General Assembly. The General Assembly
appointed the person who would receive the honor. In 1998, this changed. The selection of the Poet Laureate is now
made from a list submitted by the Poetry Society to the Governor, and the
General Assembly confirms the Governor’s selection. The Poet Laureate serves for a two year term
with no restrictions on reappointment.[iv] The Poetry Society’s criteria for a nominee
include:
The poet must be a resident of Virginia and have resided here at least ten years.
The poet must be published in literary journals and have had at least one book
of poems published. Honors and awards received …should be taken into account.
The poet must be physically able and willing to make at least some requested appearances during the laureateship.
The poet need not be a teacher or a member of the PSV.[v]
Recent Poet Laureates
Sofia Starnes
Of
Philippine-Spanish heritage, the 2012-2014 Poet Laureate, Sofia Starnes is the
author of five poetry collections. Her
poetry has also appeared in numerous journals and anthologies. In 2001 the U.S. Poet Laureate selected
Starnes a co-winner of the prestigious Aldrich Poetry Prize.[vi] She was also twice nominated for the Pushcart
Prize.[vii] At the request of the Poetry Society of
Virginia, Starnes compiled an anthology of the poetry of the Virginia Laureates
between 2004 and 2012. Often her poetry
examines the spiritual comforts in day-to-day events as in the poem All
Souls Day in her 2011 anthology Fully Into Ashes.[viii]
In
an online interview[ix] Starnes
spoke of the importance of poetry in the modern culture of instant communication:
"Poetry matters because beauty and intimacy matter – and these are the two things that
are gravely threatened by our modern way of life. First of all, poetry invites us to look for what is beautiful. A poem may and often does deal with “non-pretty” things-grief, pain, loneliness-but if the poem is true, it will leave the reader with a sense of beauty…”
For those who find poetry
intimidating, Starnes advises the reader “never to analyze poem! ...a poem is
meant to be experienced.”
Rita Dove
The
first of the Virginia Laureates featured Rita Dove (2004-2006) , who may be the
most recognized by Americans. From
1993-1999, she served two terms as the U.S. Poet Laureate. Among Dove’s numerous prestigious awards are
the Pulitzer Prize in Poetry in 1987, the National Humanities Medal, and the
National Medal of Arts. Dove is
described as:
a quiet leader and
as an artist who weaves African-American experience into the broader
perspective of international culture.
Dove’s lyrical and accessible poetry reflects the author’s interest in
music and drama, as well as her commitment to social justice and her
sensitivity to women’s issues.[x]
Rita Dove teaches at the University
of Virginia where she holds the chair of Commonwealth Professor of English.
Carolyn Kreiter-Foronda
Named
Virginia Poet Laureate in July 2006, Carolyn Kreiter-Foronda suceeded Rita Dove. She is a native of central Virginia and is a
life-long educator often leading service-oriented projects for the Commonwealth. Kreiter-Foronda developed a state-wide
poetry-in-the-schools program and co-edited an instructional guide for
poetry. Some of her poetic themes can be
attributed to her interest in art. One
book of poems features Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo. She frequently combines her poetry with
illustrations of her abstract art. She
worked with another poet laureate, Claudia Emerson, on the Metro Public Art
Project for the Tysons Corner metro stations that will highlight the poetry of
eight Virginia Poet Laureates.
Kreiter-Foronda was a six-time Pushcart Prize nominee. As with some of other poet laureates, she has
an association with University of Mary Washington where she graduated.
 | |
| Carolyn Kreiter-Foronda, Claudia Emerson, and | Kelly Cherry. |
Claudia Emerson
Claudia
Emerson, a Virginia native, was the Poet Laureate from 2008-2010. Her early poetry often features growing-up in
a small Virginia town. In 2006 she
received the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry for her collection Late Wife that
tells of the experiences of divorce, a new love, and a new marriage. Her work with Kreiter-Foronda is mentioned
above. She is a professor of English and
holds the Arrington Distinguished Chair of Poetry at the University of Mary
Washington.
Kelly Cherry
Kelly
Cherry, Poet Laureate 2010-2012, spent most of her working life teaching at
University of Wisconsin-Madison but now resides in central Virginia. She often teams with Claudia Emerson and
Carolyn Kreiter-Foronda to give poetry readings. Cherry graduated from the University of Mary
Washington. She has published fourteen
books of poetry and nine works of non-fiction.
In 1977, she won the Pushcart Prize.
In graduate school she studied philosophy, thus philosophical musings
are often the subject of her poems, in particular in the 2009 collection The
Retreat of Thought.[xi] The last poem in this volume, Postscript,
reflects on the process of leaving philosophical studies to write poetry.
We
encourage you to come on September 21 to hear Poet Laureate Sofia Starnes. If you cannot attend but want to read these
poets’ works or other poetry, they are available at your Library.
[i] Starnes,
Sofia M. Editor. Four Virginia Poet
Laureates (2004-2012). Cedar Creek
Publishing. Bremo Bluff, VA. 2013. 6.
[ii]
www.encyclopediavirginia.org/Poetry_Society_of_Virginia.
[iii]
Starnes. 11.
[iv] The Poet Laureates uncludes
Charles
W. Wormeley: life time appointment
(December 18, 1936 – August 24, 1938)
No
appointments 1938-1942
Charles
Day: 1 year appointments March 14, 1942 – 1948
Thomas
Lomax Hunter: 1948
Leigh
Buckner Hanes: 1949
Ruby
Altizer Robert: 1950
No
appointments 1950-1970
Guy
Carleton Drewry: 1970-1991
Ruby
Altizer Roberts: Poet Laureate Emeritus 1992
Kathryn
Forrester Thro: July 1, 1994 – June 30, 1996
Margaret
Ward Morland: 1996-1998
Joseph
Awad: 1998-2000
Grace
Simpson: 2000 – 2002
George
Garrett: July 9, 2002 – 2004
Rita
Dove: Sept 20, 2004 – June 25, 2006
Carolyn
Kreiter-Foronda: June 26, 2006 – June
2008
Claudia
Emerson: August 26, 2008 – July 28, 2010
Kelly
Cherry July 29, 2010 – June30, 2012
Sofia
Starnes current
[vi] New
Englander Thomas Bailey Aldrich (1836-1907) was an influential poet, novelist,
travel, writer, and editor from
the 1850s to the end of the century.
[vii] The
Pushcart Prize honors the best poetry and short stories of the previous year
published by small presses.
[viii] Wing
Press. San Antonio, TX.
[ix]
www.dailypress.com/entertainment/books/writers-block-blog.
[x]
www.loc.gov/rr/program/bib/dove.
[xi]
Louisiana State University Press. Baton
Rouge.
No comments:
Post a Comment