Poets Laureate: So What?

This little essay is OPINION. And we all know that opinion is the lowest form of knowledge. Informed opinion is slightly higher, but not too much. So, as you read this essay, if you continue to read, keep in mind the first sentence.

Okay. Poets Laureate. Poets Laureate are folks who have been selected by a government official or a government agency like the Delaware Division of the Arts to act as ambassadors (or maybe as cheerleaders) of the poetic arts in schools and other places where poetry should happen. In Delaware the governor appoints people to the position, usually under advisement of the arts agency. But the governor does not need to consult anyone on the appointment, unless of course, his wife or some other relative has a suggestion.

Here in Delaware, where every move by today’s government officials is politically crafty (and always politically correct) new Poets Laureate were announced yesterday evening. This is the first time that two poets will share the position. This is also the first time that twin brothers will claim the title. And this is the first time Spoken Word poets have been selected for the job. Lots of firsts.

But really, why do we need Poets Laureate? In some places that title is purely honorary or symbolic and there are no duties attached other than an occasional reading of a poem at official functions. In other places the position is only as active as the appointee wants to make it. Here in our State the last two Laureates have been busy folks. They took the job seriously and did much to promote the literary arts in Delaware. So maybe we need a Poet Laureate if only to be a reminder that poetry is still around and it might still have some value.

Now let’s turn to Spoken Word poetry. Of course almost all poetry is meant to be spoken. But the modern appellation of Spoken Word designates poetry and poets who deliver poems in a strong rhyme and meter pattern, often spontaneously. It has been called “Rap” without musical instruments in the background. A great deal of Spoken Word poetry is political, addressing issues of race and urban living. Much of it is aimed at young people and is intended to be inspirational. And some of it is sexually charged or intentionally shocking in content. There is a strong tradition in Spoken Word that goes back to the 1960’s “First Poets’ of New York City. And of course the “First Poets” drew on earlier traditions of story tellers and probably spontaneous “testifying” in various predominately African-American churches. What modern Spoken Word poetry does not draw on is the vast library of poetic literature that is the foundation of today’s written and orally presented poetry. In fact, I have had Spoken Word artists say that they stay away from “old style” “classical” or “written down” poetry since it is “irrelevant”.  When I asked a particular Spoken Word guy if he had read or heard any “Beat” poets from the 1950s or 1960s he said that he didn’t have time to fool with that stuff.

So I’m a little worried. I don’t know the two poets who are our new Laureates in Delaware. I’ve heard that they are good and caring individuals. I’ve read that they are very active in their communities and that they are both professional social workers. But I don’t know if they have any regard for poetry other than Spoken Word. I don’t care if they have MFAs or a long list of academic credentials. I’m sorely lacking in those myself. But as ambassadors of poetry in schools I’d like to know that traditional poetry gets a fair shake. I’d like to see kids encouraged to read Shel Silverstein, Billy Collins, Langston Hughes, Walt Whitman, Sherman Alexie, Pablo Neruda and hundreds of others as their young minds move from grade school and on to college. Poetry is not a subject that gets much attention in today’s English classes. Its value has diminished even more than it had when I was in school decades ago. It has gone the way of good grammar, cursive handwriting and classical literature.

Our previous Poet Laureate was struggling mightily against that decline. She strongly supported the Poetry Aloud program. She pushed creative writing of all types as she traveled to schools up and down the state. She encouraged students to enter writing competitions, poetry and prose. And she always encouraged young people to read – read the old poets and prose writers, read new poets and prose writers, read local poets and prose writers. I’m hoping the new Laureates will continue that struggle for real literacy.

In Delaware there is also a strong network of poets and other authors. There are numerous writing groups in every county. Critique groups, weekly or monthly workshops, writers’ breakfast or lunch clubs are a regular part of the lives of many writers in our state. Poetry readings happen on a regular basis. Guest speakers are brought in from around the nation to give talks and lead workshops. These programs take place in Libraries and churches and museums and schools. Delaware is a lively place for literature. I hope that our new Laureates take advantage of this built in network to spread the word about their particular Art. And I hope they call upon all of these organizations to help in the revitalization of literature in the schools.

I’m not a big fan of Spoken Word poetry. But that doesn’t matter. I’m not a fan of “Language” poetry either, or 19^th century Romantic poetry. But I see the value in all those things. They are all building blocks in the foundation of literature. What we do now has been built on what came before.

I wish the new Poets Laureate much success in their new posts. I hope to meet them soon and I hope they continue the activist ways of their predecessor in the office.