|
|
|
POET LAUREATE |
|
About JoAnn Balingit
Never-Never Land
by JoAnn Balingit
after Malay proverbs
where cats have horns
where turtles climb trees
where green fish snap at
sleeping birds on the banks
where east lies west of tidal pools
where midnight crawls out of your hand
where rocks roll down
but pebbles roll up
in other words,
where the rich fall down
and the poor rise up
like dough in earthenware
and spread, like butter on satin…
where crumbs brush away
and the smell of fine clothing
graces an open fire
"Never-Never Land" was originally published in
Can We Have Our Ball Back?
|
JoAnn Balingit is Delaware's 14th Poet Laureate, appointed by
Governor Ruth Ann Minner in May 2008. A resident of Delaware since 1990, JoAnn was born in Columbus, Ohio and
grew up in Lakeland, Florida. She has travelled widely, living abroad for several years in Morocco and Portugal. She holds masters degrees in American Literature and Library and Information Science. In summer 2008, she earned a Doctorate of Education at the University of Delaware.
JoAnn has taught poetry for many organizations and in a variety of settings. At the Wellness Community of Delaware, she initiated an ongoing weekly poetry workshop for cancer patients and their families. JoAnn sees poetry as a facilitator of conversation and community, a way for individuals to navigate the wonders and challenges of being alive. With attention to craft, she believes, poetic language creates new understandings. JoAnn encourages educators, parents, and poets to collaborate in the development of "Poetry in the Schools" programming, a program in which guest poets teach the art of poetry to young people.
JoAnn's poems have recently appeared in the journals Smartish Pace and Salt Hill, and in the anthologies DIAGRAM.2 (Del Sol Press, 2006) and Best New Poets 2007 (Meridian/Samovar). She was a recipient of a Delaware Division of the Arts Individual Artist Fellowship in 1995 and was nominated for a 2004 Pushcart Prize for her poem "Your Heart and How it Works." Her essay, "Some Boy Somewhere," was awarded the 2008 Dr. Norman H. Runge Award.
As Poet Laureate, Dr. Balingit seeks to promote the art of poetry throughout Delaware by supporting opportunities
for:
• Delaware students to read great poetry and to write poetry
• Delaware poets to develop their skills and promote their work
• Delawareans to experience poetry readings by outstanding poets
|
|
About Delaware’s Poet Laureate Program
Request a Poet Laureate appearance
Non-Profit Organizations: The Division of the Arts arranges the Poet Laureate’s calendar for state functions and non-profit organizations event requests only. Click here for the request form.
For-Profit Organizations: For-profit entities interested in scheduling the Poet Laureate for an event should contact her directly by email: jbaling@udel.edu. |
Delaware’s Poet Laureate is an honorary position appointed by and serving at the pleasure of the Governor. The Poet Laureate serves as an advocate, educator, and presenter of poetry throughout the state. Proposed activities for this position include:
- Promoting the importance of poetry and the literary arts as part of Delaware's cultural heritage
- Speaking at such official state functions as the opening of state legislative sessions, the Governor’s Awards for the Arts, conferences, and public ceremonies
- Presenting readings and poetry discussions in educational settings and community events across the state
- Developing poetry programming and presentation opportunities in collaboration with the Division of the Arts to support the Division's program goals
The Delaware Division of the Arts promotes the Poet Laureate’s events and activities and manages the Poet Laureate’s calendar of appearances. The Division also provides financial support to non-profit organizations to assist with appearance fees.
|
|
|
Last Updated: Wednesday, 13-Aug-2008 13:25:37 EDT
|
