Poet Laureate

As the Poet Laureate of Murfreesboro, Tennessee, I see poetry as an act of listening, witnessing, and gathering voices. My role is not just to write, but to engage: to hear the language of this city, to reflect it, and to create spaces where poetry can be a conversation rather than a monologue.

Poetry is not only an art form, it is a way of engaging with the world and with one another. It is a means of listening for the unspoken, of making space for voices that might otherwise go unheard. In this role, I hope to not simply offer poetry to the city, I hope to learn from it and help carry its stories forward and perhaps help reflect them back to their authors to show something new.

Since stepping into this role, I have been listening to Murfreesboro: not just its history, but its present voices. I am collecting the language of this place, reflecting on its rhythms, and am considering how poetry can serve the community in ways that are relevant, resonant, and real.

Ongoing & Upcoming Projects

• The Sum of All Parts – A collaborative storytelling initiative gathering individual reflections to form a collective poetic tapestry of Murfreesboro’s many voices.
• Public Readings & Community Events – Bringing poetry into public spaces—libraries, parks, and gatherings—where it can reach people beyond traditional literary settings.
• Workshops & Conversations – Creating spaces where poetry becomes a tool for reflection, dialogue, and shared meaning-making.
• Collaborative Projects – Working with artists, educators, and community leaders to bring poetry into unexpected places and conversations.
• Tributes & Commemorations – Offering the language of witness for moments of shared grief, remembrance, and reflection.

A Poet Laureate serves not only by writing but by listening to the voices of the city. If you have a story to share, a community space where poetry belongs, or an idea for collaboration, please contact me.