Bethel searches for next poet laureate

BETHEL — The town is holding a competition to find its next honorary poet laureate.

Candidates for the threeyear appointment must submit three original poems, as well as a resume of their publications, to be reviewed by an independent committee.

From the entries, judges will select three finalists to be interviewed based on poetic understanding, concept and style.

All styles of poetry are welcome, but applicants are asked to choose ones appropriate for a live reading because the three finalists will be evaluated on their verbal presentation and stage presence, in addition to what they hope to achieve as laureate.

The competition is open to any Bethel resident over the age of 18, and the deadline for submissions is Dec. 31.

Applicants must email their three poems and resume of publications, along with their name, address and phone number to Bethel’s current poet laureate, Cortney Davis, at cortneydav@yahoo.com with “NEXT POET LAUREATE” in the subject line.

Davis became the town’s first poet laureate in 2018, after being selected from a pool of seven applicants.

Entries for the second poet laureate competition will be judged anonymously, so poets’ names must not appear on or in their poems. The poems can be on any subject, but they must all have a title, not exceed 40 lines in length and be the entrant’s original work.

The town of Bethel is holding a competition to find its next honorary poet laureate. Cortney Davis has held the position for the last three years.

Handwritten entries will not be accepted — poems should be typed and emailed as a Word or PDF file — and they must be in English.

The winner will be appointed Bethel’s second poet laureate — an unpaid position — by the Board of Selectmen and become responsible for expanding the community’s knowledge of and exposure to poetry, as well as composing poems for special events and occasions.