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 “
2015 Poet Laureate – David Escobar-Martin
MaPoet Laureate 2015
DAVID ESCOBAR- MARTIN
David Escobar-Martín is the product of spoken word and written poetry. A Philadelphia Youth Poetry Movement Alumni, David has performed at poetry slams since the age of fifteen. David’s current goal is to earn a spot on his college’s CUPSI team for 2016. He now studies at Temple University and majors in Latin American Studies and Spanish Literature.
He enjoys reading and writing poetry in English, Spanish, and French and often considers foreign languages to be the reason why he began writing poetry for audiences beyond the stage. His blog is a testament to his efforts to grow outside the realm of spoken word and his chapbook, Eden, defines his love of both styles.
“Praise to the poet who draws attention to the world around us in fresh and eloquent metaphors and conceits and language that marks our journey on earth, but more importantly, the journey into ourselves. Praise to the charming imagination that sings the power of a woman, and the “hummingbirds in her hips.” Praise to the poet of consciousness whose words are like a fist saying No to black bodies outlined in chalk. These are more than poems of cultural identity, more than a celebration of family who suffer exile, who triumph over diseases, their selflessness and beauty a legacy to their loved ones. These exuberant poems burst with a vitality that quickens my delight and makes me want to dance.”
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Poets Laureate
