Search » Advanced

New law creates state poet laureate

By WALT WILLIAMS, Chronicle Staff Writer

HELENA -- Writing law isn't poetry, but poetry has found its way into state law.


 A bill signed into law by Gov. Brian Schweitzer Thursday creates the position of state poet laureate, an honorary title that will be bestowed by the governor. He will select the poet from a list of nominees provided by the Montana Arts Council.

The bill was recommended by former Rep. Beverly Barnhart of Bozeman and carried in the Legislature by Sen. Sam Kitzenberg, R-Glasgow, and Sen. John Cobb, R-Augusta.

The occasion had Schweitzer jokingly trying out his verse as Barnhart watched him sign the bill.

"There once was a gal from Bozeman named Beth, who called a senator from Augusta named Cobb," he started.

"Don't go any further," Barnhart pleaded, but the governor promised her his poem had a happy ending.

"They brought the paper to the governor to sign, and he said 'I'll sign that bill and it will be fine,'" he said.

Schweitzer will get to designate the state's first poet laureate.

The bill requires the arts council to submit a list of three nominees to him by July. He must appoint one of those nominees to the two-year post 30 days later.

The position is an honorary title meant to boost the arts in the eyes of the public. Former national poet laureates include Robert Frost and Robert Fitzgerald.

A poet laureate is needed "to elevate the concept of poetry, and honor some of our finest, creative poets today," Kitzenberg said.

Barnhart said there is much interest in poetry, although it's not something always talked about. She belongs to a poetry club in Bozeman, and being a former lawmaker, she decided to give Cobb a call to pitch the idea of a state poet laureate.

"Poetry is of the heart," she said. "It's about feelings, and its gotten me through a lot of hard times and good times."

She noted that former national poet laureate Billy Collins started the Poetry 180 project, which brought poetry into high schools across the nation.

"So national poet laureates have projects and I hope that our Montana poet laureate will have some sort of a project," Barnhart said.

Reader Comments

The following are comments from the readers. In no way do they represent the view of The Bozeman Daily Chronicle. Please read our Online Users Agreement.
You must register with a valid e-mail to post comments on BozemanDailyChronicle.com. Only your Member ID will be posted with your comments. Posts that violate our Online User Agreement will be edited or removed.

Login:

Become a Registered User

Member ID:
*Password:
Remember login?
(requires cookies)
  Forgot Your Password?
 

Do not use usernames or passwords from your financial accounts!

Note: Fields marked with an asterisk (*) are required!

Create a Member ID:
*Choose a password:
*Re-enter password:
E-mail Address:
Year of Birth:
 

(children under 13 cannot register)

First Name:
Last Name:
Company:
Home Phone:
Business Phone:
Address:
City:
State:
Zip Code:
Web site:
 

Printer friendly version Subscribe