“Just Listen to Yourself: A Retrospective,” features Darrell Bourque, the Louisiana Poet Laureate who originated the program in 2011, hosting readings by all of the poets who have served as the state’s poet laureates and hosted this annual event since its inception. They include, in chronological order, Julie Kane, Ava Leavell Haymon, Peter Cooley, Jack Bedell, and John Warner Smith.
“The State Library of Louisiana is proud that it is able to participate in National Poetry Month again this year and to look back fondly at the previous decade of ‘Just Listen’ events,” said State Librarian Rebecca Hamilton. “During those years 58 poets have appeared as panelists with the six poet laureate hosts, some multiple times. I am gratified that we have been able to offer this program without pause, now for the eleventh time, including four additional individuals who have not previously participated. Each year it is so rewarding for us to celebrate Louisiana’s literary talent by hearing the voices of poets from throughout the state. I am particularly proud of all our staff behind the scenes who have made this and other virtual programs possible, which allows us to reach more Louisianans than ever before.”
Louisiana Poets Laureate (chronological order)
Darrell Bourque, 2007-2008; 2009-2011
Julie Kane, 2011-2013
Ava Leavell Haymon, 2013-2015
Peter Cooley, 2015-2017
Jack Bedell, 2017-2019
John Warner Smith, 2019-
| Liz Adair | Lara Glenum | Melinda Palacio | ||
| Ralph Adamo | Christopher Hannan | Andrea Panzeca | ||
| Nordette Adams | Kelly Harris-DeBerry | Alison Pelegrin | ||
| Caroline Ancelet | Ashley Mace Havird | Michelle Pichon | ||
| Jack Bedell | David Havird | Jennifer Reeser | ||
| Katie Bickham | Ava Leavell Haymon | Brad Richard | ||
| Darrell Bourque | Clemonce Heard | Donney Rose | ||
| Mary Katherine Brake | Carolyn Hembree | Leigh Camacho Rourks | ||
| Marilyn Burel | Kirby Jambon | Mona Lisa Saloy | ||
| Kelly Clayton | Charles Jolivette | Chancelier “Xero” Skidmore | ||
| Carlos Colón | Julie Kane | Genaro Kỳ Lý Smith | ||
| Peter Cooley | Elizabeth King | John Warner Smith | ||
| Sidney Creaghan | Justin Lamb | Jay Udall | ||
| Dorothy Early Davis | Dorie LaRue | Lenore Weiss | ||
| Charles deGravelles | Madeleine LeCesne | Kelly West | ||
| Malaika Favorite | Clare Martin | Gail White | ||
| Gina Ferrara | Bonny McDonald | Afton Wilky | ||
| Amy Fleury | David Middleton | Andy Young | ||
| Charles Garrett | Laura Mullen | |||
| John Gery | Biljana Obradovic |
Distributed at the April 17, 2019 poetry celebration at the State Library of Louisiana
What Is the Name for a Group of Poets?
a poem by Alice Jane-Marie Massa
A colony of beavers
must know something
about colons and semicolons.
A sleuth of bears
hibernates to envision
the highs and lows of detective stories.
A kaleidoscope of butterflies
flutters around fictional fantasies.
But, what do we call
a group of poets?
A murder of crows
sounds appropriate for
a group of mystery writers.
A flight of doves
must develop
many creative ideas.
A convocation of eagles
must ease into
historical fiction.
A cast of falcons
must focus on
TV scripts and stage dramas.
A stand of pink flamingos
perches upright and ready
to present
behind any podium.
Perhaps, you can think of what to call
a group of poets.
A cackle of hyenas
have to turn to comedy.
A troop of kangaroos
can write military history.
A leap of leopards
jumps into a variety
of genres of literature.
A charm of magpies
channels their talents
into romance writing.
A watch of nightingales
knows when to write
bedtime stories for children.
Before the end of this night,
please tell me the name
for a group of poets.
A parliament of owls,
a pod of dolphins,
a pride of lions,
a company of parrots,
a kit of pigeons,
a litter of puppies–
all meet to ponder
the predicament of naming
a group of poets.
Near the Poetic License Branch,
a chattering of squirrels
may reveal the choice.
A game of swans may select
the winning name.
A descent of woodpeckers
may tell us their pick.
A dazzle of zebras
strongly endorses:
“a passion of poets.”
However, I vote with
an exaltation of larks
and their proclamation of
“an exclamation of poets.”
We will write,
discuss, recite, and critique
poetry:
welcome, and come join my
Exclamation of Poets.
copyright 2018, ajm
https://alice13wordwalk.wordpress.com/2018/04/11/what-is-the-name-for-a-group-of-poets/