Gov. Chris Gregoire has named Samuel Green as the Washington State Poet Laureate, a position established by the Legislature this year to build awareness and appreciation of poetry across the state.

"I am pleased to name Samuel Green as Washington's first state poet laureate," said Gov. Gregoire. "Not only will he encourage people across our state to learn about and appreciate poetry, his appointment to this position will honor the important role that poetry and poets have played in Washington's creative culture."

Green is a native of Washington and resides on remote Waldron Island. A distinguished poet and author of 10 poetry collections, including his soon-to-be released book The Grace of Necessity (Carnegie Mellon University Press, 2008), his work has appeared in numerous publications. For more than 30 years, he has served as editor of a small press focusing on the work of Washington poets. Green has served as a visiting poet in a wide range of settings, including universities, public schools, libraries, mental health centers, correctional facilities and poetry festivals. He has been visiting poet and poetry teacher at Seattle University for several years and is active with the Skagit River Poetry Festival.

The culmination of a multi-year effort, the establishment of a state poet laureate was led by Rep. Mary Skinner and Rep. Lynn Kessler and supported by a partnership of the Washington State Arts Commission, Humanities Washington and the Washington Poets Association. The poet laureate bill was passed by the Legislature and signed into law by Gov. Gregoire in April 2007.

"He is a wonderful poet," said Kris Tucker, executive director of the Washington State Arts Commission. "Sam's passion for poetry is contagious, and he will share his enthusiasm with people across the state."

The state poet laureate will serve a two-year term and build awareness and appreciation of poetry through public readings, workshops, lectures and presentations in communities, schools, colleges, universities and other public settings in geographically diverse areas of the state.

The Poet Laureate is a collaborative program of
Humanities Washington   •  Washington Poets Association  •  Washington State Arts Commission