Dallas Is On the Hunt For A Wordsmith To Be Named Poet Laureate

DALLAS, TX —Hmmm.... Roses are red, violets are blue . ..

No, scratch that.

Let's see: There once was a man from Nantucket . . .

Dang it, that's not right, either.

But you get the idea. The city is now taking applications for the "Inaugural Poet Laureate of Dallas." It's an initiative of the Dallas Public Library, the Office of Arts and Culture and Deep Vellum Books that intends to reward exemplary poetry and the poet’s role in sharing the craft with the community at large.

Said selected poet will serve a two-year term, during which time he or she or they will act "as an ambassador of the literary arts by presenting their original poems at public schools, city council meetings, county board meetings and other community organizations.

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The Dallas Poet Laureate will be considered an advocate, liaison and leader who, according to a statement from the city, "will inspire the diverse residents of Dallas County to read, write, perform and appreciate the written and spoken word by collecting literary works that commemorate Dallas and organizing literary workshop classes at various places around the city, including public libraries and Deep Vellum Books. The Poet Laureate will also work closely with Express Yourself! Youth Poetry Competition."

Whew. That's a mouthful.

In the words of Arts and Culture Director Jennifer Scripps,
“The program is a reflection of the 2018 Dallas Cultural Plan. The Dallas Poet Laureate program provides a new and important way to nurture a professional poet and bring more poetry to more parts of Dallas.”

Deep Vellum Books director Will Evans says he is enthused to act in concert with the City of Dallas to make the dream of a Dallas Poet Laureate come true.

In the statement, he said, “There is no doubt that Dallas, is, and has always been, a literary city, and the Dallas Poet Laureate will nurture new generations of readers and writers from right here in Dallas, cementing the literary arts among the city’s proudest culture offerings."

And, lest you think the title is entirely honorary and pro bono, Dallas' Poet Laureate will be award a $20,000 honorarium, and a collection of the poet's work will be published by Deep Vellum.

The program is underwritten by Deep Vellum, the Joe M. and Doris R. Dealey Family Foundation, the Friends of Dallas Public Library, Inc. and the Office of Arts & Culture.

Aspiring wordsmiths have until Dec. 31 to apply. The city intends to name its' inaugural Poet Laureate in April 2022.
Complete details are available at www.dallaslibrary.org/poetry — including admission instructions. Additional information can be found by emailing humanities@dallaslibrary.org.

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