Arlington Selects New Poet Laureate

The Poet Laureate Committee has selected Jean P. Flanagan as the fourth Poet Laureate of Arlington. She will be appointed by the Select Board on January 23. A celebratory event honoring outgoing Poet Laureate Steven Ratiner and welcoming Flanagan will take place in the Community Room of Robbins Library January 24, 7 – 8pm. All are welcome, and refreshments will be served.

The Committee reports that they chose Flanagan as Poet Laureate based on many criteria: the sensitivity, historical resonance, and eloquence of her poetry; and her grace, humanity, and an openness to the opinions and interests of others. The committee members felt that these qualities would make her an excellent representative for the people and poetry of Arlington. Furthermore, she has a familiarity with Arlington’s institutions (and personalities) from her service on the literary committee of the Arlington Center for the Arts and has experience organizing events. The committee was especially impressed with her work with prisoners and probationers, demonstrating not only her openness to others in need, but her ability to share poetry and its healing powers to a wide diversity of people. The plans she discussed for her tenure touched on all the many areas of Arlington — from its children to its elders, from those who write poetry, to those who read it, to those who think they might like to.

The evening celebration on January 24, 7 – 8pm, will give Arlington residents the opportunity to thank the town’s outgoing Poet Laureate, Steven Ratiner, and to welcome the newly appointed Poet Laureate, Jean Flanagan. The public is invited to meet the Poet Laureates, hear their poetry, and learn more about their hopes and dreams for engaging community members of all ages.