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It’s hard to become the bard.
To get a gig as Brooklyn’s new poet laureate, the borough’s wordsmiths have until Nov. 24 to submit their work to a five-person poetic panel that will parse the prose and select three finalists for Borough President Markowitz.
“We know that with all our borough’s beauty, character — and characters — Brooklyn writers and poets never lack inspiration,” said Markowitz, whose selection will fill the coveted volunteer position that’s been vacant since poet laureate Ken Siegelman’s death in June.
“Our new poet laureate should follow the expansive example of Ken Siegelman, now of blessed memory, by not only being a fine poet, but an enthusiastic ambassador of poetry and literacy.”
Alongside five to 10 pages of poetic work, potential poets laureate must also send a two-page bio or resume, and a cover letter outlining how they’ll use poetry to engage with Brooklyn neighborhoods.
The panel features heavy hitters of light verse, including Julie Agoos, coordinator of Brooklyn College’s poetry Master’s program; Robert Casper, of the Poetry Society of America; Linda Susan Jackson, poet and English professor at Medgar Evers College; Dionne Mack-Harvin, Brooklyn Public Library executive director; and Anthony Vigorito, poet and retired teacher who was mentored by Siegelman.
Send poems, bio or résumé and a cover letter to ekoch@brooklynbp.nyc.gov before Nov. 24 at 5 pm.
Applications can be faxed to (718) 802-3452, or mailed to Poet Laureate Recommendation Committee, Brooklyn Borough Hall, 209 Joralemon St., Brooklyn, NY 11201.
©2009 Community Newspaper Group
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