Like Robert Frost, who once canonized the rolling hills and forests of New England, one local bard may soon pen elegies to Schenectady County, capturing its history and people.
At its monthly committee meeting on Monday, June 30, the Schenectady County Legislature introduced a resolution that would establish an honorary position of a county Poet Laureate.
According to Legislator Gary Hughes, D-Schenectady, chair of the committee on education and libraries, the poet laureate would work with the public to encourage a greater appreciation for the reading and writing of poetry.
The position would be unpaid, and a volunteer committee of community members would choose the county poet.
Hughes said the poet would report to the county manager’s office and would likely serve a two-year term, at which point the poet could be reelected.
Several members of the Legislature spoke in favor of the bill including Karen Johnson, D-Schenectady, a longtime advocate for increasing the impact of the arts in the county.
We’re looking to unleash some potential in our county, said Johnson. `This is a platform for someone to do some good work.`
Five other counties in the state have poet laureates including Delaware, Kings, Queens, Suffolk and Tompkins counties.
Hughes said the county received several letters in support of the resolution from agencies including the Schenectady County Public Library, Niskayuna School District, Schenectady County Community College and Union College.
Esther Swanker, president of the library’s board of trustees said that trustees unanimously passed a resolution in March urging the Legislature to appoint a poet.
`As envisioned, this post would be volunteer, no cost to the county and would work with schools, the library and with other community groups,` wrote Swanker in a letter of Legislative Chairwoman Susan E. Savage, D-Niskayuna.
Union College English Professor Jim McCord, a teacher of poetry for more than 40 years, said the appointment of a Poet Laureate would `enhance the educational life` of the county.
`I’m reminded again and again of the ways poetry especially ` because of its intense focus on language and power of expression through image and sound ` makes students close, attentive, more discerning, understanding and sensitive readers and writers.`
McCord and others said Schenectady County could be the first in the area to make such an appointment.
The county’s position would closely mirror of positions held by distinguished poets both nationally and regionally.
The United States Library of Congress has appointed an official Consultant in Poetry to the Library of Congress since 1937.
In 1985, an act of Congress changed the name of the position to Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry to the Library of Congress.
Much like the proposed county position, U.S. Poets Laureate seek to increase public interest in poetry through events, newspaper columns and publications.
Previous U.S. Poets Laureate include Robert Penn Warren, Robert Frost, Rita Dove, Ted Kooser and Donald Hall.
Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Charles Simic is the current U.S. Poet Laureate. Simic was appointed to the position in 2007.
New York State also boasts two literary posts. Novelist and short story writer Mary Gordon is the state author and Jean Valentine is the state poet. Both were named to their positions in March.
The Schenectady County Legislature will vote on its resolution at its meeting on Tuesday, July 8.“