Houston Looking for 1st Poet Laureate

In the Houston Chronicle, today, comes word that the city of Houston and the Public Library are looking for a poet laureate.

Me? Being relatively new in town the Mad Houstonian is just looking for open mic poetry venues.

In southern Ca. where I grew up, attracting an appreciative audience was hit or miss.

Sometimes I would beg and plead, to no avail...

 

Other times, they liked me, they really liked me!

Maggie Galehouse writes that Mayor Annise Parker and Rhea Brown Lawson, director of the Houston Public Library (both poets in their own right), are looking for someone "to represent the city and make poetry more accessible to its residents."

So, what are the requirements?

You would have to write original works and  plan poetry-related events. To qualify you must have strong ties to Houston, have lived here at least 4 years, have a body of already published works and be at least the tender age of 21.

Once you have been chosen you had better be prepared to write an original poem about Houston, too!

You will be paid $5,000 a year and serve 2 yrs. for your trouble.

Think you have what it takes?  The deadline is March 8 and the application, and more info, can be found at:

http://www.houstonlibrary.org/houston-poet-laureate

The winner will be announced during National Poetry Month in April.

As for me, well I went googling for open mic poetry venues in Houston and came up with a lot of venues and even a few local organizations. This will give me plenty of things to read up on and places to consider visiting and reading my poetry at.

Many times I came across listings where poets are called "Spoken Word Artists", a term I'm not too familiar with, to be honest; something else to read up on.

Articles and websites referenced for this story:

1. Houston Chronicle (Premium content access online) http://www.houstonchronicle.com/life/books/article/Houston-seeking-its-own-poet-laureate-4304635.php?cmpid=btfpm

2. Laguna Beach People's Council Too Stoned to Critique Poetry, and Stories?

http://www.madmacedonian.com/2011/12/laguna-beach-peoples-council-too-stoned-to-critique-poetry-and-stories.html

3. Mad Macedonian is The Cat's Meow, at Two Idiots Open Mic!

http://www.madmacedonian.com/2012/01/mad-macedonian-is-the-cats-meow-at-two-idiots-open-mic.html

Comments

[SocciWriter]

Beautifully written, Kiril! I'm afraid you may not be able to qualify due to the residency requirements, but you have everything else down pat!

I like the idea of you researching "spoken word artists" and meeting some new folks in this area...

[Kiril Kundurazieff]

Thank you Amanda.