Monday Muse: New Wyoming Poet Laureate

My poetic philosophy is to communicate

in as few words as possible a poetic idea.*

~ A. Rose Hill

Wyoming's new Poet Laureate is A. Rose Hill, appointed by executive order July 9. She is the seventh person to assume the position, and the third to be named by Governor Matt Mead.

Hill succeeds Echo Roy Klaproth, whose term of service began in January 2013. Information about the honorary appointment is contained in my Monday Muse post dated April 26, 2010, which profiles David Romtvedt, the state's fourth official poet.

Hill gives many poetry readings and conducts poetry workshops.

* * * * *

I wanted to write memories for my family. And poetry

was the easiest way to get those memories on paper.**

A. Rose Hill has been a writer since the mid-1970s; however, she has not published a full collection of poetry.

Hill's poetry, written in free verse reflects her focus on family and community, life in the West, and nature. (See the section in Resources titled A. Rose Hill Poems Online.)

Hill's work has been published in Emerging Voices: Journal of Literature and Art, a publication of Western Nebraska Community College. (See the section below titled A. Rose Hill Poems Online.)

Two anthologies that include Hill's work are Leaning into the Wind: Women Write from the Heart of the West (Houghton Mifflin, 1997; Mariner Books, Reprint, 1998), containing her poem "Chokecherry Jelly", and Woven on the Wind: Women Write about Friendship in the Sagebrush West (Houghton Mifflin, 2001; paper, 2002), containing "The Gift" and "Barefooting Summer". Hill's poetry also is in the chapbook Wyoming Journeys (Volume 2) (WYOPoets/Wyoming Writers, 1995)

Hill received in 2015 an honorable mention in the annual Neltje Blanchan award competition of the Wyoming Arts Council. She was named 2012 Wyoming Senior Poet Laureate by California's Amy Kitchener Angels Without Wings Foundation. Hill's poem "Chemo" received honorable mention in the 2008 free verse poetry contest of Wyoming Writers. In addition, Hill was given in 2002 an Emmie Mygatt Award, which is presented to a Wyoming Writers member for outstanding service.

Resources

Photo Credit: Wyoming Poets

* Quoted from Wyoming Poets Profile

** Quoted from James Chilton, "Sheridan Woman Named Newest Wyoming Poet Laureate", Wyoming Tribune Eagle, July 11, 2015.

Office of the Governor, "Governor Mead Names Rose Hill of Sheridan as New Poet Laureate", News Release, July 9, 2015

"Governor Names Rose Hill of Sheridan as New Poet Laureate", Press Release at Basin Radio Network, July 9, 2015 

"Governor Mead Names Rose Hill of Sheridan as New Poet Laureate", Wyoming Arts Council, July 9, 2015 (This comprises the governor's press release, which was picked up and published in many news outlets throughout the state.)

"A. Rose Hill Named as Wyoming Poet Laureate", Wyoming Tribune Eagle, July 9, 2015

A. Rose Hill Profiles Online: Wyoming Poets and Writing Wyoming

A. Rose Hill Poems Online: "Grandma Tol' Me Long Ago" at Wyoming Poets; "Song of Wyoming" at Wyoming Public Media (Audio Only); "Painted Ladies" (Page 60) in Emerging Voices (2011; pdf); "Grandma Tol' Me" (Page 5), "A Search In Vain" (Page 14), "Cassie in the '40s" (Page 31), All in Emerging Voices (2009; pdf); "Commitment 1990" and "Afterword 1993" (Page 29) in Emerging Voices (2006; pdf)

Windbreak House/The Wind Anthologies (This site provides information about the two anthologies mentioned in the profile above.)

Writing Wyoming (A photo of the governor's office when Hill was appointed is here.)

Wyoming Arts Council (Photos are available on the council's FaceBook pages.)

Wyoming History (Wyoming State Historical Society)

Wyoming Poets (FaceBook)

Wyoming Writers Inc. (Hill is a charter member of the organization, a nonprofit devoted to educating and encouraging writers in any genre, professional or not.)