TC Poet Laureate Checks In

February 22nd, 2011

Current TC Poet Laureate Gail Holst-Warhaft while visiting the Acropolis

Tompkins County Legislature Chair Martha Robertson has appointed Gail Holst-Warhaft as Tompkins County Poet Laureate for 2011. Born in Australia, the new Poet Laureate brings to the position a diverse background, including experience as a journalist, broadcaster, writer, academic, musician, poet, and translator. An adjunct professor of Near Eastern Studies, Comparative Literature and Classics at Cornell University, Holst-Warhaft currently directs a program of Mediterranean Studies. The new Poet Laureate calls Ithaca “one of the most fortunate cities in the United States” in terms of poetry, with a lively local poetry scene and nationally acclaimed poets on the faculty at both Cornell and Ithaca College, who have inspired hundreds of young poets. As Poet Laureate, Holst-Warhaft says she will work to build greater interaction between the local poetry scene and poets who teach at the colleges; organize events combining poetry and music; showcase the poetry of immigrant communities in the County; support the efforts of Ithaca City of Asylum to keep Ithaca a refuge for persecuted writers, and work with the Ithaca school district to bring poets into the schools.

HEAR GAIL ON "ALL THINGS EQUAL," WHCU'S PROGRAM ON EQUITY AND SUSTAINABILITY

I had no idea the office of Poet Laureate was a full-time job! It has been an exciting but busy few weeks, and I have already solicited poems from a number of individuals in the immigrant community. Translators and fellow-poets have agreed to work with them to produce fine English translations. Here is what I've been up to so far.

February 8th: I met with Gary Stewart, Deputy Director, VP Government and Community Relations, who was very interested in the immigrant poets project and had good suggestions of people to contact.

February 14th: I taught a poetry class in the ESL program taught by Grace Beeler in the downtown Presbyterian Church. Several of the students are interested in participating in the CAP festival, and one woman from Iraq gave me a copy of a very moving poem she had written in English lamenting the condition of her country.

February 16th: I attended the ICOA Board Meeting. They are very interested in co-sponsoring a presentation as part of the festival and suggested the Hangar Theater as a venue. They are worried about their funding from Cornell for the next year, and I proposed that several of the resident refugee poets might be sponsored for much less money as a bridging project. This is being considered.

On March 4th: I will read at a "salon" at the Aboavagogo Salon in W. Seneca Street. The previous Poet Laureate, Jay Lehman, will also participate.

On March 15th: I will give a 2-period class at Ithaca High School organized by Marie-Therese Pasquale on water and poetry. School music groups will perform "water music".

Through Maura Stevens, I was put in touch with Jeffrey Hellman, who is nearing completion of a documentary of a Burmese refugee, Han Lin, who recently passed away. In the footage is a clip of U Han Lin singing one song about his home and another clip of a community singing a song written by Han Lin called "Welcome to the Pagoda." Jeffrey would possibly be able to make these available for the readings or another Burmese refugee might sing or read the lyrics.

There are plans for more events at schools in the area and at the MacCormick Secure Center.

All this has been a lesson in what I don't know about Tompkins County and the ever-surprising Ithaca Community.

Best

Gail