Learning From A Poet Laureate

Poetry is able to evoke emotions and feeling in concise language. The language and imagery in poetry provide a glimpse of an inner world that prose often muddles through clumsily. The staircase of a poem seems easy to navigate from a distance. However, the steps can be trickier than perceived. In looking to climb the stairs, it is often wise to seek the council of those who have gone before you, and find out the secrets to successful poetry writing. The National Poet Laureate is just such an individual. By finding out about the Poet Laureate, and their work, students can learn about the mechanics of poetry, and gain an appreciation of this art form.

The Poet Laureate is a prodigious honor bestowed on a poet. It recognizes what this individual has achieved in writing, and gives this person a platform to impart their knowledge of the genre.
        

"The mission of the Library of Congress Poetry and Literature Center, under the terms of the bequests that established and support its programs, is to foster and enhance the public's appreciation of literature."

The philanthropist, Archer M. Huntington, created an endowment for the "maintenance of a chair of poetry of the English language in the Library of Congress." The Poet Laureate serves as a chair for one year from October to May. There is a monetary award given with the seat. The money and prestige of the honor allows the Poet Laureate a chance to work freely on any poetry projects. The honoree sets up speaking engagements during their calendar year. 

The current Poet Laureate is Kay Ryan. She lives in Marin County in Northern California. One of her goals is "re-examining the beauty of everyday phrases and mining the cracks in common human experience." Her poetry is rarely written in the first person. Ryan is quoted on the Poet Laureate web page as saying "I don't use 'I' because the personal is too hot and sticky for me to work with. I like the cooling properties of the impersonal."

Each Poet Laureate has brought their own unique ideas to the position. Joseph Brodsky promoted the idea of putting poems in airports, supermarkets and hotels. Maxine Kumin had workshops for women at the Library of Congress. Rita Dove was an advocate for children's poetry.

Below are some lesson plans that will introduce families to all that poetry can offer. Poetry provides a way for students to learn how to use language to express themselves, and can also help them get in touch with their feelings.

Poetry Lesson Plans:

Poetry Project - What's My Style has five sections with handout links. Each section explores aspects of poems and how to create them.

Famous Poems and Poets has children identify famous poems and poets. It uses specific sites in this fun scavenger hunt.

Painting Pictures With Poetry provides students with key tools to create vivid imagery: similes, metaphors and personification. It will also touch on the current Poet Laureate and their contributions to literature.