List of municipal poets laureate in Massachusetts explained

This is a list of past and current municipal poets laureate serving towns, counties, and cities in Massachusetts. The state of Massachusetts does not have a poet laureate program.

Amesbury

• Lainie Senechal – 2016–2017^[1]
• Stephen R Wagner – 2018–2019
• Ellie O'Leary – 2020–2023
• Lisa Usani Phillips – 2024–2025^[2]

Arlington

• Miriam Levine - 2015–2017^[3]
• Cathie DesJardins - 2017–2019^[4]
• Steven Ratiner - 2019–2021^[5]
• Jean Flanagan - 2023–2025^[6]

Attleboro

• Briana Serradas – 2022–

Boston

• Samuel James Cornish – 2008–2014^[7]
• Danielle Legros Georges - 2014–2019^[8]
• Porsha Olayiwola - 2019– ^[9]

Brockton

• Philip Hasouris – 2021–

Haverhill

• Dan Speers - 2022– ^[10]

Martha's Vineyard

See also: Martha's Vineyard Poet Laureate.

• Lee H. McCormack - 2012-2014^[11]
• Arnie Reisman - 2014-2016^[12]
• Justen Ahren – 2017–2019^[13]
• Jill Jupen – 2019–2024^[14]
• Claudia Taylor – 2024–2026^[15]

West Tisbury

• Dan Waters – 2006–2009^[16]
• Fan Ogilvie – 2009–2012
• Justen Ahren – 2012–2015
• Emma Young – 2015–2018
• Spencer Thurlow – 2018–2022
• Tain Leonard-Peck – 2022–2025

Medford

• Terry E. Carter – 2021-2023^[17]
• Vijaya Sundaram – 2023–

New Bedford

• Everett Hoagland - 1994-1998^[18]
• John Landry - 2007–2010^[19]
• Patricia Gomes - 2014-2021^[20]
• Sarah Mulvey - 2022– ^[21]

Northampton

• Martin Espada – 2001-2003^[22]
• Janet Aalfs - 2003-2005^[23]
• Jack Gilbert – 2006–2008^[24]
• Lesléa Newman – 2008–2010^[25]
• Lenelle Moïse – 2010–2012^[26]
• Richard Michelson – 2012–2015^[27]
• Patrick Donnelly - 2015-2017
• Amy Dryansky – 2017–2019^[28]
• Karen Skolfield – 2019–2022^[29]
• Franny Choi – 2024–2026

Plymouth

• Stephan Delbos – 2020– ^[30]

Rockport

• Sharon Chace – 2017– ^[31]
• Robert Whelan – 2022-2025^[32]

Somerville

• Nicole Terez Dutton – 2015–2016^[33]
• Gloria Mindock – 2017–2018^[34]
• Lloyd Schwartz – 2019–2024^[35]

Springfield

• María Luisa Arroyo – 2014–2016^[36]
• Magdalena Gómez – 2019–2022

Westwood

• Lynne Viti - 2023-2025^[37]

Worcester

• Juan Matos – 2020–2022^{[38] [39]}
• Oliver de la Paz – 2023–2025

Notes and References

1. Web site: Sullivan . Jim . 2020-01-03 . Ellie O'Leary is Amesbury's third poet laureate . 2024-08-28 . The Daily News of Newburyport . en.
2. Web site: Massachusetts . 2024-08-28 . Academy of American Poets . en.
3. Web site: Minutes of Arlington Poet Laureate Committee Meeting . . 2015-07-02 . Town Of Arlington, MA Website . 2021-04-02 . We chose Miriam Levine to be the first Poet Laureate of Arlington..
4. Web site: Getting To Know Cathie Desjardins And Her New Book, Buddha In The Garden — Mass Poetry . 2023-04-12 . en-US.
5. Web site: Meet Steven Ratiner, Arlingtons's Poet Laureate — Mass Poetry . 2023-04-12 . en-US.
6. Web site: Arts Arlington Arlington Selects New Poet Laureate . 2023-04-12.
7. Web site: Passing the time with Boston Poet Laureate Sam Cornish . 2024-08-28 . The Somerville Times . en-US.
8. Web site: Glatter . Hayley . 2018-06-27 . I Love My Job: Boston Poet Laureate Danielle Legros Georges . 2024-08-28 . Boston Magazine . en-US.
9. Web site: Meet Porsha Olayiwola, Boston's new poet laureate - the Boston Globe. The Boston Globe.
10. News: City of Haverhill Names Civic Leader, Author, Inventor and Poet Dan Speers as Poet Laureate .
11. Web site: Former Martha's Vineyard Poet Laureate Lee H. McCormack has died. The Martha's Vineyard. Times. 15 April 2020. July 31, 2022.
12. Web site: Arnie Reisman dubbed Poet Laureate of Martha's Vineyard. Jack. Shea. 1 October 2014. July 31, 2022.
13. Web site: 2019-04-03 . Reception for new poet laureate, Jill Jupen . 2024-08-28 . The Martha's Vineyard Times . en-US.
14. Web site: Dowd . Brian . 2019-03-12 . Jill Jupen named poet laureate of Martha’s Vineyard . 2024-08-28 . The Martha's Vineyard Times . en-US.
15. Web site: Vineyard Poet Laureate Selected . 2024-08-28 . The Vineyard Gazette - Martha's Vineyard News . en.
16. Web site: West Tisbury Poet Laureate West Tisbury Public Library . 2024-08-28 . en-US.
17. Web site: 2023-07-26 . Poet Laureate - City of Medford . 2024-08-28 . www.medfordma.org . en-US.
18. Web site: Everett Hoagland - UUA.org. October 19, 2022.
19. News: John Landry: New Bedford's newest poet laureate . 19 October 2022 . Claire T. Carney Library news . University of Massachusetts Dartmouth . 10 April 2007.
20. News: Silvia . Michael . Patricia Gomes Named New Bedford Poet Laureate . 19 October 2022 . New Bedford Guide . 28 April 2014.
21. News: Chitwood . Seth . New Bedford's poet laureate — one of only 6 in MA — is reshaping how people think of poetry . 19 October 2022 . SoutchCoast Today . 26 July 2022.
22. Web site: Martin Espada . 2024-08-28 . Northampton Arts Council . en-US.
23. Web site: Poet Laureate. Northampton Arts Council. July 31, 2022.
24. Web site: Jack Gilbert . 2024-08-28 . Northampton Arts Council . en-US.
25. Web site: Lesléa Newman . 2024-08-28 . Northampton Arts Council . en-US.
26. Web site: Lenelle Moïse . 2024-08-28 . Northampton Arts Council . en-US.
27. Web site: Richard Michelson . 2024-08-28 . Northampton Arts Council . en-US.
28. Web site: Amy Dryansky . 2024-08-28 . Northampton Arts Council . en-US.
29. Web site: Meet Karen Skolfield, Northampton’s Poet Laureate — Mass Poetry . 2024-08-28 . en-US.
30. Web site: Stephan Delbos, first Poet Laureate in Plymouth, Massachusetts. . 2024-08-28 . Made in Plymouth . en-US.
31. Web site: 2017-11-17 . Sharon Chace's poetry . 2024-08-28 . Gloucester Daily Times . en.
32. Web site: Hagan . Stephen . 2024-04-18 . Rockport author pens book on children’s poems . 2024-08-28 . Gloucester Daily Times . en.
33. Web site: Nicole Terez Dutton 2015 & 16 . 2024-08-28 . somervilleartscouncil.org.
34. Web site: Gloria Mindock 2017 & 18 . 2024-08-28 . somervilleartscouncil.org.
35. Web site: 1981-05-28 . Lloyd Schwartz . 2024-08-28 . Poets & Writers . en.
36. Web site: Meet Magdalena Gómez, Springfield’s Poet Laureate — Mass Poetry . 2024-08-28 . en-US.
37. Web site: Westwood Poet Laureate Town of Westwood, MA . 2024-02-01 . www.townhall.westwood.ma.us . en.
38. Web site: City of Worcester Announces Oliver de la Paz as Next Poet Laureate City of Worcester, MA . 2024-08-28 . www.worcesterma.gov.
39. Web site: Meet Juan Matos, Worcester’s Poet Laureate — Mass Poetry . 2024-08-28 . en-US.