Sunday, November 9, 2025
The community is invited to a celebration of poetry and a book release of the anthology, "Still the Water: Olympia Poets on Place," edited by outgoing poet laureate Kathleen Byrd.
The event is set to take place at Squaxin Park Rose Garden from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Wednesday, July 16.
The event, hosted by the City of Olympia through its poet laureate program, will feature anthology poets reading one poem each.
Poets and guests alike can receive a copy of the anthology.
Byrd accepted poetry submissions for the anthology on poetry until April 30.
Residents of the City of Olympia submitted a one-page original poem in any style or format, which relates to the theme of the natural world or climate change in Olympia.
The City of Olympia selects a Poet Laureate every two years to engage the community in the literary arts.
“Olympia’s take on the position of Poet Laureate is less an honorary title and more about service over status,” the city’s website states.
The duties of a poet laureate, according to the city, include promoting poetry as an art form, expanding access to the literary arts, and encouraging poetry as a community voice that contributes to a sense of place.
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Olywelcomesall
The poet laureate program has helped many of us shape and sharpen our poetry skills and knowledge. I love what Kathleen Byrd has brought into the group settings this past year. She’s brought much out of us who attended. Thank you Olympia for supporting this program.
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