Richard Michelson, Poet Laureate of Northampton (photo by Seth Kaye)

The Northampton Arts Council is proud to announce the selection of Richard Michelson, poet, children’s book author, and art dealer as Poet Laureate of Northampton for 2012-2014. 

The Northampton Poet Laureate position is a two-year term during which the poet will be responsible for educating the public of the importance of poetry through activities of interest to the chosen poet. The selection committee read poetry by various nominees, discussed a wide range of qualities in all their work, and considered their success in the larger poetry world. This year the selection committee chose a poet who has long been an advocate for all the arts. By majority vote, Richard Michelson was selected.  Past poet laureates include Lenelle Moïse, Lesléa Newman, Jack Gilbert, Janet Aalfs and Martín Espada.

Richard Michelson is the author of more than 20 books. He has been a finalist for the Massachusetts Book Award and the National Jewish Book Award. He received a Sydney Taylor Gold and Silver Medal from the Association of Jewish Librarians, the only author to be honored with their two top awards, in the organization’s history.  Over the past decade, The New York Times, Publishers Weekly, Amazon.com and The New Yorker have all listed different Michelson titles among their Ten Best Books of the Year.

Michelson’s poetry has been published in many anthologies, including The Norton Introduction to Poetry. Clemson University named Michelson their R. J. Calhoun Distinguished Reader in American Literature in 2008, and new poems have recently appeared in The Southern Review, Image: Art-Faith-Mystery and The Harvard Review.

Michelson is a board member of PACYA (Poetry Advocates for Children and Young Adults), and he has lectured, and read from his works in India, Eastern Europe, and throughout the United States. He is the owner of R. Michelson Galleries in Northampton Massachusetts.

Richard Wilbur, winner of the Pulitzer Prize for poetry, has written that Michelson’s poetry “asks with urgent eloquence how the sweetness of life can be sheltered from the terrors of our time, and what art can make of such a world as ours. His poems are artful, humane and true."

The inaugural reading for Mr. Michelson will be Thursday, May 3^rd 7PM., in the Coolidge Room at the Forbes Library. Mr. Michelson will be joined by former poet laureates Leslea Newman, Janet Aalfs and Martin Espada. The event is free and open to the public. Donations will be accepted to further the work of the Poet Laureate.