Dear friend, Dana Larkin Sauers, has worked hard on her second book, My Letter to the World, a wonderful collection of her columns and poetry. Please check out the link below to order!
Click here for more information about previous Hanover Poet Laureate's newest book.
Friday, January 29, 2010
Sunday, January 24, 2010
Open Mic at Reader's Cafe
4th MONDAY night, January 25, 2010:
No Feature, but YOU!!!
ENJOY an OPEN MIC FREE FOR ALL!!
All happens at The Reader's Cafe in Hanover, PA,17331 125 Broadway, 2 blocks east of the square.
Audience Q&A with/among ourselves!
7:30 start. See you there. Send, inform, invite or bring friends!! Pass this along, please.
Support Indie Book Stores--Reader's has unique and mainstream selections, great coffee, tea, soda, and chai, wonderful soups and sandwiches. Come early; stay till 10 p.m.
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
What is a Poet Laureate?
The most common question I've been asked since being appointed Poet Laureate is, "What is a Poet Laureate?" People of all occupations, education levels, classes, etc. have asked the same question; so I can deduce that ignorance about this position does not discriminate. Don't feel bad if you don't know "exactly" what a Poet Laureate is; no one (except for a poet) does. :)
It's sort of like the rock star poet problem. There are many poets who I would swoon over if they walked in the room, even more so than teenagers do over that vampire. However, the problem is that only poets know celebrity poets. For example, I was so excited about some of my new poet friends on facebook that I told my non-poet friends about it. When they asked who the poets were, I just responded, "Well, nevermind, you don't know them." For them to know one of my new poet friends, I would have had to say Emily Dickinson or Maya Angelou. So is the problem that poets are selfish and exclusive? Well, I doubt it. I think the problem is that people are not educated about poetry. So, they don't understand it, and then, essentially, don't care. And this brings me to the first job of the Poet Laureate. (Were you wondering when I was going to come full-circle?)
To me, the Poet Laureateship carries with it a great responsibility to poetry. A Poet Laureate is an advocate for the art and tries to promote poetry in whatever community he or she is appointed in. There are Poets Laureate of countries, such as England, where this all began, but there are also Poets Laureate of states and cities. Not every government has this appointed position; so, I feel grateful to Hanover for instituting this position years ago.
If you think about the etymology of the word, it comes from the word "laurel," a sign of victory, which means all Poets Laureate are winners. Just kidding! However, laurel was used as a mark of distinction. That base word can also be found in other words, such as "baccalaureate," the word for a bachelor's degree. In this case again, the "laurel" marks a distinction, the earning of a degree. So, the title "Poet Laureate" carries with it a distinction for your writing and commitment to advocating for poetry. More specifically, for Hanover, PA, it also carries with it the column in The Evening Sun and the opportunity to pen poems for community events.
For all you history folks, according to www.answers.com, this position was used in Medieval Europe as an award at universities, but later became a salaried position in government. "The salary has varied, but traditionally includes some alcohol." I read that Chaucer traded his distinction for wine.
It's sort of like the rock star poet problem. There are many poets who I would swoon over if they walked in the room, even more so than teenagers do over that vampire. However, the problem is that only poets know celebrity poets. For example, I was so excited about some of my new poet friends on facebook that I told my non-poet friends about it. When they asked who the poets were, I just responded, "Well, nevermind, you don't know them." For them to know one of my new poet friends, I would have had to say Emily Dickinson or Maya Angelou. So is the problem that poets are selfish and exclusive? Well, I doubt it. I think the problem is that people are not educated about poetry. So, they don't understand it, and then, essentially, don't care. And this brings me to the first job of the Poet Laureate. (Were you wondering when I was going to come full-circle?)
To me, the Poet Laureateship carries with it a great responsibility to poetry. A Poet Laureate is an advocate for the art and tries to promote poetry in whatever community he or she is appointed in. There are Poets Laureate of countries, such as England, where this all began, but there are also Poets Laureate of states and cities. Not every government has this appointed position; so, I feel grateful to Hanover for instituting this position years ago.
If you think about the etymology of the word, it comes from the word "laurel," a sign of victory, which means all Poets Laureate are winners. Just kidding! However, laurel was used as a mark of distinction. That base word can also be found in other words, such as "baccalaureate," the word for a bachelor's degree. In this case again, the "laurel" marks a distinction, the earning of a degree. So, the title "Poet Laureate" carries with it a distinction for your writing and commitment to advocating for poetry. More specifically, for Hanover, PA, it also carries with it the column in The Evening Sun and the opportunity to pen poems for community events.
For all you history folks, according to www.answers.com, this position was used in Medieval Europe as an award at universities, but later became a salaried position in government. "The salary has varied, but traditionally includes some alcohol." I read that Chaucer traded his distinction for wine.
Saturday, January 9, 2010
My Week in Hanover Area Schools
I had the great opportunity this week to meet with several educators and administrators in the Hanover area, in hopes that I can be involved with students and faculty during my tenure as Poet Laureate. My ideas for collaboration were met with much enthusiasm, and I'm excited about the partnerships I've started with educators in the area. I'd like to especially thank the following individuals for their time and openness for poetry:
Mr. Samuelsen, Principal of Hanover High School
Mrs. Smith, Faculty of Hanover High School
Mr. Krout, Principal of Washington Elementary
Ms. Porter, Librarian at EHMIS
Mr. Duckworth, Principal of EHMIS
Mr. Graves, Principal of South Western High School
Mrs. Greenholt, Librarian at South Western High School
Mrs. Kern, Faculty of South Western High School
Ms. Alric, Faculty of South Western High School
Mr. Wilcox, Faculty of South Western High School
Mr. Hershner, Principal of Hanover Street Elementary
I'd also like to say a special thanks to Mr. Vega, Mrs. Brodbeck, and their classes at South Western High School for allowing me to come into their classrooms and teach a poetry lesson this week. I really enjoyed my time with the students creating weather metaphors and freestyling. :)
I wasn't able to get around to all area schools this week, but if you'd be interested in partnering with me, please stay tuned. I plan to post videos on the blog that will introduce myself and my ideas to faculty and students. Also, feel free to contact me with your ideas.
Mr. Samuelsen, Principal of Hanover High School
Mrs. Smith, Faculty of Hanover High School
Mr. Krout, Principal of Washington Elementary
Ms. Porter, Librarian at EHMIS
Mr. Duckworth, Principal of EHMIS
Mr. Graves, Principal of South Western High School
Mrs. Greenholt, Librarian at South Western High School
Mrs. Kern, Faculty of South Western High School
Ms. Alric, Faculty of South Western High School
Mr. Wilcox, Faculty of South Western High School
Mr. Hershner, Principal of Hanover Street Elementary
I'd also like to say a special thanks to Mr. Vega, Mrs. Brodbeck, and their classes at South Western High School for allowing me to come into their classrooms and teach a poetry lesson this week. I really enjoyed my time with the students creating weather metaphors and freestyling. :)
I wasn't able to get around to all area schools this week, but if you'd be interested in partnering with me, please stay tuned. I plan to post videos on the blog that will introduce myself and my ideas to faculty and students. Also, feel free to contact me with your ideas.
Thursday, January 7, 2010
The Four Poets Laureate of Hanover
On Monday, at the Hanover Borough Council meeting, the Poet Laureateship was handed over to me from Michael Hoover. Thanks to Anna Bowman, Dana Sauers, Michael Hoover, and family for supporting me at the event. And thanks again to the Hanover Borough Council for appointing me.
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