By Ashton Kay, OMAHA, Neb. – Just last month, Nebraska appointed a new State Poet, Jewel Rodgers. If you don’t know what a State Poet is, don’t worry. You might be familiar with the term Poet laureate. There is a national poet laureate, and every state has their own poet laureate. Nebraska, being an exception as it often tends to be, instead has what is called a State Poet. Matt Mason, the former Nebraska State Poet, says that the role is essentially the same.
“John G. Neihardt is our poet laureate, and he’s still our poet laureate because the state legislature named him that in perpetuity,” Mason said. The State Poet’s job is to represent Nebraska poetry within the state and across the country. Mason says that the responsibilities of the role can vary a lot. One of his goals was to make poetry more accessible to more people. This involved his project to visit and do a poetry event in every county in Nebraska
Jewel Rodgers, Nebraska’s newly appointed State Poet, shares her vision for poetry in the state, including showcases, exchanges, and community engagement, as she begins her journey of making poetry more accessible and celebrated across Nebraska.
“We’re kind of taught sometimes that poetry is something more complicated or more lofty, that poetry is supposed to be smarter than us, and it’s not.”
Jewel Rodgers, the new State Poet, is still in the early phases of this transition.
“I haven’t adjusted yet,” said Rodgers. “But I’m very grateful. Perhaps by the summer I’ll be a little more well-adjusted.”
Rodgers stated that her project as State Poet involves three parts.
“The first part is that I would like to host five showcases within the three congressional districts in Nebraska. The second part is that I would like to have a small poetic exchange program. The third is simply some sort of regular meeting to do logistical stuff. Like the boring mundane things that we all don’t want to do.”
