Montgomery County Poets Laureate
The Annual Montgomery Poet Laureate Competition is the foundation upon which the MCPL Program was built. The competition is the ultimate expression of the program’s mission; creating an ever expanding community of poets, supporting their work and providing opportunities for poets to elevate their visibility while also benefiting the community with their service project, many of which continue long beyond their tenure.
How does the competition work?
Each year MCPL recruits a celebrity poet with a national reputation, who along with two additional local Delaware Valley poets, adjudicate the submitted manuscripts.
The newly selected Montgomery County Poet Laureate is honored with an award in the amount of $500 along with a personalized statement about their work, which is shared through MCPL and other local organizations.
The Award is presented during an Award Ceremony and Reading, open to the public and attended by the celebrity judge and previous poets laureate to read with and welcome the newest member of their esteemed ranks.
Who can compete?
Poets of all ages and backgrounds are encouraged to submit their poetry for review and adjudication in the annual competition. Poets must also be residents of Montgomery County. The window for submissions generally opens in early December and closes mid-February with the winner to be announced at the end of March.
The role of the Poet Laureate
The Poet Laureate functions as an ambassador for poetry in Montgomery County from April 1 of the year of his/her naming to March 31st of the following year. This role includes working with MCPL’s Executive Director, Joanne Leva, to develop a schedule of readings, workshops
Appearances may include the Forgotten Voices Poetry Group, Farley’s Bookshop First Thursday Poetry Reading Series, and the annual Caesura Poetry Festival. They may also hold the office of “
MCPL Resources | by Melinda Rizzo
As refuge, protest, or a way to figure out and make sense of the world poets are compelled to make poetry.
Poetry as barometer – as oral history keeper, or as a forum for social and cultural change. After all, maverick poets are known throughout time for creating their own platforms.
For those drawn to the creative process and expressions through poetry, some moments offer great abundance where ideas flow fast and furious. Then there are the lean times.
During droughts and creative troughs no words or lifelines come. No new work rendered, but what may appear as silence can be home to something vital – like still water barely moving, wilderness places lead to lush, fertile valleys once more.
When the well seems dry and vacant, the Montgomery County Poet Laureate Program website provides a wealth of resources to get the juices going again.
Anyone with online access can tap into this rich, supportive community.
The resources on montcopoet.org take away the guesswork, anguish and frustration of just “getting started” – often the hardest forward step to take.
Poetry Noir provides writing prompts using film clips and “moments” from black and white movies films to provoke poetic responses – check out some poems at montcopoet.org.
Student Poetry Noir aims to provide prompts and inspiration for young people, too, in conjunction with Poetry WITS (Writers in the Schools), especially important during the Covid-19 pandemic, school closures and social distancing restrictions.
Tekpoet is a resource offering manuscript services to help support emerging voices on the journey to become published poets. Tekpoet offers a mentor list for such valuable assets as critique and commentary, social media promotion, art, illustration, design and web services. Go to www.tekpoet.com to learn more.
Poetry needs to be heard.
Few experiences or more tangible or relational than listening to a poet read his or her own work. Montco Poetry Podcasts, available at montcopoet.org, provide a way to sample various poets work by listening to their creative voices.
Covid-19 has created shelter-in-place environments around the world, offering a paused moment to take a fresh breath. By honing skills and craft, poets can participate through written and spoken word in the shifting landscape in which we find ourselves.
In April, “Laureates from Home” offered a virtual gathering space to pass the mantle of Montgomery County Poet Laureate. Outgoing Laureate Cathleen “Cathy” Cohen shared her work and experience during her year-long tenure as David Gaines, the new 2020 Montgomery County Poet Laureate, offered a reading from his winning entry, and premiered some new work.
As the Montgomery Community poetry community looks forward in 2020 check for updates about the annual Caesura Poetry Festival. Caesura sponsorships are also available.
Caesura is scheduled to take place on the grounds of Camphill Soltane Glenmoore Estate, located at 224 Nantmeal Road, Glenmoore, PA, from October 2 to October 4.
Caesura provides encouraging space for readings, reflecting, workshops, panels, discussions, (drumming!) and a bonfire – filled up and overflowing with inspiration!! For more information about Caesura visit montcopoet.org/caesura.
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Poets Laureate
