Oregon Poet Laureate .com
History and Essays on this important position.
Current Laureate:
Ellen WaterstonStart of Term
August 2024Position History:
Position established by the governor, April 23, 1923; adopted by Legislature in 1989 (Laws, 1989, Chap. 122, Sec. 1,2,3; Statutes, 1994 Supplement, Sec. 357.925). First laureate was Edwin Markham. The position began as a lifetime appointment, and remained such until William Stafford's tenure ended in August 1989.In 2006, funds from the Oregon Cultural Trust "supported the reinstatement of Oregon’s poet laureate . . . and each laureate’s outreach as an ambassador of poetry across the state." The position was changed from a lifetime appointment to a two-year appointment, renewal for a second two-year term. Lawson Inada was the first Oregon Poet Laureate appointed under the new term limits.Previous Laureates:
Edwin Markham (April 23, 1923-1931)
Ben Hur Lampman (February 20, 1951-1954)
Ethel Romig Fuller (1957-1965)
William Stafford (October 1975-August 1989)
Lawson Fusao Inada (February 17, 2006-2010)
Paulann Petersen (April 26, 2010-April 24, 2014)
Peter Sears (April 25, 2014-April 26, 2016)
Elizabeth Woody (April 27, 2016-May 14, 2018)
Kim Stafford (May 15, 2018-2020)
Anis Mogani (2020-2024)
Greetings fellow Oregon poets!
As an Oregon poet, myself for more than 40 years, I have had the privilege to know many of Oregon's finest poets. Perhaps the highlight of my poetry career came in the early 80's when I shared a book table with none other than William Stafford himself! That was during a Spring conference of the Oregon Poetry Association in Portland.Following the passing of William Stafford, Oregon was without a State Poet Laureate for many years. Several times, I launched letter writing campaigns to members of the Oregon Legislature, urging the position be filled. I also wrote to newspapers and anyone else that I thought might listen. I called my efforts 'The Charge of the Light Brigade'. I was always thrown back in complete defeat after at best a small amount of interest.And two years later the members of the Legislature would meet again. And again I would launch a new letter writing campaign urging an Oregon Poet Laureate be appointed. And again... with the same result! But the 'charge of the Light Brigade was always courageous and well intention despite ending once again in predicable failure.And then one day as I was charging boldly once again, something surprising happened. Members of the Legislature took a sudden very serious look at the issue and the press began to also push the idea. And then it happened! A wonderful Oregon poet from Southern Oregon, Lawson Fusao Inada was appointed Oregon Poet Laureate on April 27th, 2006. After so many years of failure on my part, it seemed the 'charge of the Light Brigade' was not in vain. And no, I did not expect to ever be given credit for my years of effort. That is not what I did it for and it is not how things work.Steven Robert Heine.
UPDATE: Steven Robert Heine was severely crippled in a fall at his home in November 2024. He spent many weeks in the hospital and can no longer walk or even stand up. Your contribution will help pay for nursing care and his rehabilitation.
Please donate.
Author Steven Robert Heine is in need of a major sponsorr for future books and reprints of his other books. Some people spend thousands of dollars for tickets to college football games; why not instead leave a legacy by sending a large amount as a sponsor of books by Steven Robert Heine? Large contributions MAY be credited in future books. Several books remain unwritten. You could help make history.
Thank you!
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