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American Bards: a Brief History of the Poet

Laureate of the United States
By Thomas Pool
2022

The United States Poet Laureate is the o4cial poet of the country. During their term, the Poet Laureate uses their
own unique style to raise interest in and appreciation for poetry in the U.S. This article discusses the role of Poet
Laureate in the United States and how it can connect Americans to all the voices that make up our unique
chorus. As you read, take notes on how the position of Poet Laureate developed throughout history.

[1] The Poet Laureate is an honor that is given to poets

around the world. In fact, it might be more accurate
to describe it as an honoriLc — a title given as a mark
of respect with few or no duties. There are national
Poets Laureate and state laureates and, in some
places, even local Poets Laureate. The role of a Poet
Laureate will diKer from place to place, but it is
always a title that is considered prestigious and
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esteemed.

The History of the Poet Laureate

"Amanda Gorman 2017" by Shawn Miller is licensed
under CC0.
The role of the Poet Laureate can be traced back to
ancient Greece. The ancient Greeks held poets, playwrights, and philosophers in high regard and treated them
as heroes. As such, they would be crowned with laurel wreaths, a symbol of divinity and honor. These heroes
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were known as laureates. The term was revived during the Renaissance-era in Europe, as the kings and queens
of Europe looked to their ancient ancestors for inspiration. The Lrst “modern” poet laureate was John Dryden,
the Lrst Poet Laureate of England, in 1668. These early poet laureates were chosen by their monarchs and were
expected to write tributes to celebrate their kings and queens, and their realms. As democracy blossomed, so
too did the poet laureates’ freedom of expression.

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In the United States, the national Poet Laureate is appointed by the Library of Congress. The position was Lrst
established in 1937 when it was simply known as the Consultant in Poetry to the Library of Congress. The more
prestigious title of “Poet Laureate of the United States” was established by Congress in 1985, after it was
championed by the amateur poet and Hawaiian Senator, Spark Matsunaga. Although they are appointed by the
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government, the Poet Laureate is not paid by the government. Instead, the laureate receives a small stipend

1. Esteemed (adjective) regarded with respect and admiration

2. period of artistic, cultural, and political “rebirth” in Europe from the 14th to 17th centuries
3. the research library that serves the US Congress and is the unoMcial National Library of the United States

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provided by a philanthropic endowment.

Many American poets scoKed at the idea of a Poet Laureate at Lrst. They thought the role would be similar to
the poet laureates of the past, and many disliked the idea of having to write odes to the President. Fortunately,
this fear was entirely misguided. The Poet Laureate’s task is to simply raise the literary and poetic
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consciousness of the American people, and not to laud the government or the country’s leaders, as their
Renaissance-era counterparts would have.

[5] The position is a post of honor rather than one of responsibility. The Laureate has very few required duties, and
the Library of Congress allows the poet to pursue their own projects and writing while they are in oMce.
However, that does not mean that the Poets Laureate are — pun intended — resting on their laurels. Each
Laureate has used their position in their own way to enhance America’s poetry in unique and engaging ways.
Gwendolyn Brooks visited schools to teach children how to write poetry. Maxine Kumin established poetry
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workshops for women. Rita Dove brought together other writers and poets to explore the African diaspora.
She also championed the poetry of children, and even recited a poem at the Lrst state dinner of President
Clinton.

The Poet Laureate today

Today, the national Poet Laureate is Joy Harjo. Harjo was appointed Poet Laureate of the United States in 2019
by the Library of Congress. She is the Lrst Native American Poet Laureate. The signature project of her time in
the position is “Living Nations, Living Words,” which seeks to connect the American public with the rich language
of contemporary Native American poets. Harjo’s work follows in the footsteps of previous Poets Laureate, many
of whom also sought to connect Americans with a diverse array of poetry and poets.

Since 1937, there have been many “Lrst” Poets Laureate, each of whom used their talent and poetry to inspire
and enlighten America. The Lrst woman to serve in the role as Consultant was Louise Bogan, from 1945 to
1946, and the Lrst African American Consultant was Robert Hayden. After 1985, when the role was formalized
into Poet Laureate, the Lrst woman to hold the role was Mona Van Dun, the Lrst African American was Rita
Dove, and the Lrst Latino was Juan Felipe Herrera.

In 2016, the position of National Youth Poet Laureate was established. The program seeks to connect young
people with poetry, in all its forms, whether written or spoken, sonnet or song. America’s Lrst National Youth
Poet Laureate was Amanda Gorman, who was only 19 at the time. Just four years later, Amanda Gorman would
ascend the steps of the Capitol Building to recite her poem, “The Hill We Climb”, at the inauguration of
President Biden. The poem went viral, it was read in living rooms and classrooms throughout the country.
Amanda Gorman’s message of bravery in the face of adversity, of community over disunity, was a recent
example of the power of poetry, delivered by a former Poet Laureate.

4. Stipend (noun) a Lxed payment or salary

5. a pot of donated money that is invested to create reliable ongoing income for a charity
6. collective awareness of the variety and value of literature and poetry
7. the movement of people from any nation or group away from their own country

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 Text-Dependent Questions
Directions: For the following questions, choose the best answer or respond in complete sentences.

1. What is the central idea of the text?

A. A Youth Poet Laureate program was started in 2016, but it was not successful.
B. Modern American poets have shown little interest in becoming Poets Laureate.
C. Poets Laureate were popular in ancient Greece, but they have fallen out of favor
around the world in modern times.
D. Modern American Poets Laureate come from a variety of backgrounds and often use
their title to do other good works.

2. Which detail provides the best clue to the meaning of "laud" in paragraph 4?
A. "In the United States, the national Poet Laureate is appointed by the Library of
Congress." (Paragraph 3)
B. "Many American poets scoKed at the idea of a Poet Laureate at Lrst." (Paragraph 4)
C. "Although they are appointed by the government, the Poet Laureate is not paid by the
government. Instead, the laureate receives a small stipend provided by a philanthropic
endowment." (Paragraph 3)
D. "many disliked the idea of having to write odes to the President." (Paragraph 4)

3. What is the relationship between a poet's life experience and the projects they take on while Poet
Laureate?
A. Poets Laureate are free to take on projects related to issues they care about.
B. Poets Laureate use the position of honor as a way to sell copies of their poetry books.
C. Poets Laureate are assigned projects by the Library of Congress based on their expert
knowledge.
D. Poets Laureate can work on their own projects after fulLlling the requirements set by
the President.

4. What does the phrase "resting on their laurels" mean as it is used in paragraph 5?
A. being put to Lnal rest at a funeral
B. taking a vacation before beginning a new project
C. satisLed with past success and not continuing to work
D. working harder than ever to prove themselves worthy of the prize

5. How does paragraph 5 contribute to the development of ideas in the article?

A. It shows that Poet Laureate is only an honor with no responsibilities.
B. It illustrates that Poets Laureate have used their roles to support a variety of causes.
C. It demonstrates that Poets Laureate only focus on improving and publishing their own
writing.
D. It explains that the role of Poet Laureate prevents poets from getting involved in other
projects.

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6. Explain the author's purpose in the passage using evidence from the text.

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 Discussion Questions
Directions: Brainstorm your answers to the following questions in the space provided. Be prepared to share
your original ideas in a class discussion.

1. Created in 2016, the Youth Poet Laureate is a fairly recent program. What impact could such a
program have on our country? Can you think of other programs that could beneLt from a youth
component? Why and how should we value our youth? How do you think we could get more young
people involved in the issues that impact them at the local, state, national, and global levels?

2. The article references Joy Harjo as the Lrst Native American Poet Laureate. What is the importance
of having people from many diKerent backgrounds represented in positions of honor? What does it
mean when one's culture is (or is not) visibly represented? Has cultural representation adequately
changed in America over time?