Gregoire names first state poet laureate

The Olympian | • Published December 17, 2007

Gov. Chris Gregoire today announced that she has named Samuel Green as the Washington State Poet Laureate, a position established by the Legislature this year to build awareness and appreciation of poetry across the state, a news release said.

Green, who lives on Waldron Island, is a native of Washington.

He has served as editor of a small press focusing on the work of Washington poets for more than 30 years.

Green has served as a visiting poet in a wide range of settings, including universities, public schools, libraries, mental health centers, correctional facilities and poetry festivals. He has been visiting poet and poetry teacher at Seattle University for several years and is been active with the Skagit River Poetry Festivals.

He will soon release his book, The Grace of Necessity (Carnegie Mellon University Press, 2008).

The establishment of a Washington State Poet Laureate was lead by Rep. Mary Skinner and Rep. Lynn Kessler and supported by a partnership of the Washington State Arts Commission, Humanities Washington and the Washington Poet's Association. The Poet Laureate bill was passed by the Legislature and signed into law by Gov. Gregoire in April 2007.

The State Poet Laureate will serve a two-year term and build awareness and appreciation of poetry through public readings, workshops, lectures, and presentations in communities, schools, colleges, universities and other public settings in geographically diverse areas of the state.