Washington library hosting Iowa’s Poet Laureate

We are fortunate to have Iowa’s Poet Laureate visiting our community for two events this upcoming weekend!

On Friday, Oct. 8 at 6:30 p.m., the Washington Public Library will be hosting Debra Marquart, our Iowa Poet Laureate. Debra is a Distinguished Professor of Liberal Arts & Sciences at Iowa State University.

She teaches in the MFA Program in Creative Writing and Environment and serves as Iowa’s Poet Laureate and the Senior Editor of Flyway: Journal of Writing & Environment. Marquart is the author of seven books. Her most recent book, “The Night We Landed on the Moon: Essays Between Exile & Belonging,” was published in 2021, and her poetry collection, “Gratitude with Dogs Under Stars: New & Collected Poems” is forthcoming from New Rivers Press in 2022.

In 2021, Marquart was awarded a Poets Laureate Fellowship from the Academy of American Poets. Debra will be presenting her reading/concert Friday evening at the library which is free and open to the public. Masks will be required at this event.

On Saturday, Oct. 9 at 10 a.m., we have a special Washington Writer’s Workshop with Debra Marquart at the Conservation Education Center at Marr Park in Ainsworth. This workshop is called “Sounding Our Place: a Hike & Write” sponsored by The Academy of American Poets and Earth’s Bounty in Iowa.

Debra and our Washington County Naturalist, Megan Jorgensen, will be conducting a nature walk at the park followed by a writing exercise. This is open to all ages, but 12 and under should attend with an adult. We would like to stress that you do not have to go on the walk to participate. No registration is required.

“’Sounding Our Place” is a proposed series of experiential literary events that pair an interest in place, the natural world, and environmental issues with poetry/storytelling, songwriting, and creative writing workshops. The events are meant to bring communities together in an engaged conversation about the importance of understanding place and issues of the environment, as well as nurturing the creative and expressive arts.

While agriculture is Iowa’s primary industry, the state embodies a varied landscape-gorgeous stretches of farm fields punctuated by rolling woodlands, thriving small towns, and vibrant urban areas. This project asks the question: “what are the joys and gripes, issues and historical complexities, rhythms and poetries unique to the place where you live? This activity will encourage participants to listen and remember, touch and understand, map and narrate their rich home places.”

Join us for one or both programs.