Missouri Poet Laureate JUSTIN HAMM is planning a Zoom poetry reading plus Q&A for Tuesday, February 26, at 7:00 p.m. CST that will feature all seven surviving Missouri poets laureate. He’s working on a flyer with more details so I’ll share that when it’s completed.
In reverse order, we are JUSTIN HAMM (#8, 2025-2027), DAVID L. HARRISON (#7, 2023-2025), MARYFRANCES WAGNER (#6, 2021-2023), KAREN CRAIGO (#5, 2019-2021), ALIKI BARNSTONE (#4, 2016-2019), WILLIAM (BILL) TROWBRIDGE (#3, 2012-2016)), and WALTER BARGEN (#1, 2008-2010). This will be the first time that all of us have come together to introduce ourselves, read a few of our poems, and respond to questions from the audience. Kudos to Justin! More soon.
I had the pleasure of meeting Bill Trowbridge recently in Kansas City when we gave readings at The Writers’ Place. I wish you could hear him read this column, but reading it yourself will bring plenty of reward. Thank you, Bill.
Here’s the flyer that supports the poetry reading on August 16. As I’ve mentioned, my two reading mates with be former Missouri Poet Laureate, WILLIAM TROWBRIDGE (Distinguished Professor Emeritus, Northwest Missouri State University), and award-winning Kansas City writer CATHERINE BROWDER (Adjunct Professor of Creative Writing, University of Missouri Kansas City).
The Writers Place has been a mainstay on Kansas City literary scene since 1992. It has both a Mission Statement: To build, strengthen, and promote greater Kansas City’s diverse literary community, and a Vision Statement: A community that embraces and contributes to the literary arts and supports its writers and readers. Although we no longer live in Kansas City, I belong to the organization and look forward to participating in the event on the 16th.
Looking at August, I’m glad that I’ll be back in Kansas City for two events. I mentioned the other day that on the 16th I’ll do a reading at The Writers Place, sharing the time with former Missouri Poet Laureate, WILLIAM TROWBRIDGE (Distinguished Professor Emeritus, Northwest Missouri State University), and award-winning Kansas City writer CATHERINE BROWDER (Adjunct Professor of Creative Writing, University of Missouri Kansas City).
On the 14th, I’ll join Kansas Poet Laureate, TRACI BRIMHALL, for a program at the Kansas City Main Library. Here’s the writeup on that event.
State of Poetry: The Poets Laureate of Missouri and Kansas Presented By David Harrison and Traci Brimhall
Missouri and Kansas not only have state birds, state flowers, and state trees – for many years, they’ve also had poets laureate. David Harrison currently serves as Missouri’s poet laureate. Traci Brimhall fills the role in Kansas.
In a conversation moderated by Kansas City’s first poet laureate, Melissa Ferrer-Civil, Harrison and Brimhall discuss the importance of poetry and their states’ poet laureate programs, what their roles entail, and what they’ve encountered travelling around Missouri and Kansas.
Harrison is the author of 23 books of poetry, 43 books of fiction, 23 books of nonfiction, and 18 books for classroom teachers. He expects to publish three more this year. Brimhall teaches creative writing at Kansas State University and has published five collections of poetry.
The Main Library is located at 14 West 10th Street Kansas City, MO 64105,816.701.3449
The flyer is out now promoting a reading event on August 16 for The Writers Place in Kansas City.
I’ll have the privilege of reading from my work as part of a program that also features former Missouri Poet Laureate WILLIAM TROWBRIDGE (Distinguished Professor Emeritus, Northwest Missouri State University), and award-winning Kansas City writer CATHERINE BROWDER (Adjunct Professor of Creative Writing, University of Missouri Kansas City). My thanks to former Missouri Poet Laureate MARYFRANCES WAGNER for hosting me for the event.
Children's Author David L. Harrison's Blog 
