Out Here We Say “Mizzoura”

During my time as Missouri’s 6th Poet Laureate, I have had two major goals. The first has been to put poetry into the hands and ears of Missourians who don’t usually read poetry or go to poetry readings. My second has been to promote or highlight Missouri poets and publishers. Thanks to all of the poets (over 50) who have participated in some part of one of the projects, and thanks to Jason Ryberg

of Spartan press and Ben Furnish of BkMk press for production.

As a result of Covid, I have not been able to have the usual Missouri Poet Laureate travel experience for public appearances. I’ve given readings, talks, and keynotes, taught workshops, judged contests, participated in book festivals, written poems, published a book, re-issued a new edition of Red Silk, been interviewed, and traveled around some parts of the state. I have done many events while sitting at my computer on Zoom, so I decided I wanted to create some projects that would help me fulfill my two primary goals and reach all regions of the state in a meaningful way.

The most significant thing I have learned so far as Poet Laureate is how many fine poets have lived or worked in Missouri for a large part of their lives. Through my projects, I have tried to represent all regions of the state, multiple styles, and diversity, but I know there are still many poets out there I don’t know or was not able to contact to be involved in one of my projects. I know I haven’t begun to

represent all Missouri poets, but I’m not done yet, so there’s more to come.

My first project was to create ten podcasts called The Literary State. Each of these is a ten to twenty-minute podcast with a Missouri poet. Poets answer two questions about the craft of poetry, give a writing prompt, and read two of their poems. The podcasts are available on Anchor, Spotify, and Apple, or those interested can google them and listen on their phones or computers. The goal is that people will listen to them in their car, while cooking dinner, sitting at a table with a pen in hand ready to write, or anywhere

they usually listen to podcasts. I also hope that teachers and professors will share them with their students as the podcasts offer valuable information about writing.

My second major project was to create Tiny Books to highlight eighteen more Missouri poets. Each of these tiny books includes one poem. Each of those poets received a quantity of tiny books to distribute to people who do not usually read poetry-the grocer, waiter, doctor, dentist, mail deliverer, grass cutter, neighbor, etc. These tiny books have been incredibly popular, and I wish I had thousands more

of them to distribute since there are over six million people in Missouri, and I wish everyone could have at least one of them. Some have reacted in wonderful ways of helping to spread them around for many to read, and I thank them for that.

The third project is this one-two anthologies. Ten poems from ten more Missouri poets in two anthologies published by Spartan press and in partnership with I-70 Review. Welcome to the words of ten Missouri poets in this anthology. Enjoy.

-Maryfrances Wagner, Missouri’s 6th

Missouri Poet Laureate 2021-2023