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Dublin Poet Laureate
About Us Contact Us Upcoming Events Prior Events PL Activities News Links FAQs
Welcome to the City of Dublin's Poet Laureate page. Please keep checking back as we catch up with all the news and events of the last year and plans for 2009-2010!
About Us
Ronnie Holland is Dublin’s first Poet Laureate (PL), serving a two-year community volunteer position from May 2008-May 2010. She is a published poet who acts as a public advocate for the appreciation and advancement of the literary arts in Dublin, California, by providing poetry at civic events, doing program development, hosting poetry readings, and collaborating with other poet laureates, literary groups, schools and writers of all ages and experience. In her first year as Poet Laureate, Ronnie developed and participated in events, judged poetry contests, and collaborated with regional and national writers. For a recap of Dublin’s Poet Laureate’s first year, click here.
Ronnie began writing poetry in high school. Her degree in English from California State University Hayward/East Bay included studies with Mark Strand (U.S. Poet Laureate 1990-1991) and Timothy Steele. She draws inspiration from folklore, mythology, the environment, relationships and travels. She has been published in anthologies including Best Poets of the 20th Century on Man & Environment 1975, Peopled Parables, and in the (first) 2009 California Poets Laureate Anthology entitled Sometimes in the Open. She wrote two poems for Dublin dedications and one for Hope Hospice’s “Lights of the Valley,” completed two chapbooks* in the first half of 2009, was a finalist in Common Ground Review’s Tenth Annual Poetry Contest (2009), and first honorable mention in the California Federation of Chaparral Poets’ 2009 Annual Contest. To see a selection of Ronnie’s poems, click here.
*A chapbook is a booklet, usually 25 pages or less, of poetry by one author, published by small presses or writers.
Contact Us
Contact Ronnie about the poet laureate program or to receive emails about events: poetlaureate@ci.dublin.ca.us or (925) 452-2105.
Upcoming Events
Dublin
- October 4, 2- 4 pm"Three Muses" Poetry Event: Dublin’s Poet Laureate, Ronnie Holland, invites you to be inspired by three poets who tap deeply into the rhythm of life, healing and mystic traditions. Enjoy a short break with light refreshments, then open mike (poems to be one page and 40 lines or less). Click here to download the event flyer.
- NEW! October 25: Pleasanton’s BOO-etry 2-4 pm. (see Pleasanton link below)
- December 3: Ronnie will write and present a new poem for the second time at Hope Hospice's Lights of the Valley Dublin event. Click here to download the event flyer
- January 2010: Next in series of poetry readings TBA
- March 2010: Dublin’s month of Irish events TBA.
- April 2010: National Poetry month!
Regional Events
Events hosted by other poets laureate and literary groups will be listed here as they are announced.
- Livermore
- Pleasanton
- October 25: Pleasanton’s BOO-etry 2-4 pm, an afternoon of Spooky Poetry Click here to download the event flyer.
- Pleasanton Poetry, Prose & Arts Festival -- watch for 2010 details at: http://www.pleasantonarts.org/special_events.html
- October 25: Pleasanton’s BOO-etry 2-4 pm, an afternoon of Spooky Poetry Click here to download the event flyer.
Prior Events
- 1/18/09: Dublin's Inaugural Poetry Event featured poets Rebecca Foust and Jeff Knorr Click here to download the event flyer.
- 8/23/09: Dublin's Three Humors Poetry Event Relive the event on YouTube Click here to download the event flyer.
News
3/13/09 Dublin's Lucky Limerick Winners present poems at the Dublin Sister Cities Association Green & White Gala
Over 100 Limericks were received for the Lucky Limerick contest, sponsored by the Dublin Sister City Association, Valley Times, and City of Dublin. Jim Ott announced the winners in his March 5th Valley Times column This Valley Life. Dublin's Poet Laureate, Ronnie Holland, and Dublin Sister City President Kim Halket invited the winners attending the Gala to the stage to present their limerick and receive their awards. Taking top honors were:
First Place - "Come be Irish" by Barbara Brazil
Second Place - "Irish Twins" by Julie Timberman
Third Place - "Poor Fred" by Carlos Olmedo
Honorable Mention - "Mellow" by Jon Prompel
Honorable Mention - "Five Boys" by Stacia Schober
Sister City Selection - "Dublin, our Jewel" by Julie Royce
3/3/09 Dublin's Poet Laureate presents poem for Shannon Community Center Grand Opening
Dublin's Poet Laureate, Ronnie Holland, wrote and presented a new poem entitled "Shannon Revisited" for the grand opening dedication ceremony of Shannon Community Center.
10/4/08: Dublin's Poet Laureate presents park dedication poem
On October 4th, Dublin's Poet Laureate, Ronnie Holland, wrote and presented a new poem entitled "Under the Dublin Sun" for the grand opening of Devany Square and Piazza Sorrento parks. The poem celebrates the connection of the two parks and the historical inferences they bring to modern day Dublin.
6/18/08: Dublin's first Poet Laureate appointed by City Council:
"The City of Dublin announces the appointment of the City's first Poet Laureate"
On May 20, 2008 the Dublin City Council approved Mayor Janet Lockhart's selection of Ronnie Holland as the first Poet Laureate
Links
Tri-Valley Poets Laureate:
- Ronnie Holland, Dublin [ e-mail ]
- Cher Wollard, Livermore 2009-2011 [ e-mail ]
- Deborah Grossman, Pleasanton 2009-2011 [ e-mail ]
- Patricia Perry, San Ramon 2006-2009 [ e-mail ]
- Nancy J Fraze, Danville 2008-2010 [ e-mail ]
- Connie Post, Poet Laureate Emerita of Livermore 2005-2009 [ e-mail ]
- Martha Meltzer, Poet Laureate Emerita of Pleasanton 2007-2009 [ e-mail ]
California Poets Laureate
Literary Links
FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions
What is a poet laureate?
It is an honorary title, originating from the ancient Greeks practice of crowning their artists and athletes with laurels. Poet laureate programs vary by locale, with poets serving a tradition of advancing the knowledge and enjoyment of literary arts through public readings, education and community events.
The position of poet laureate began in the middle ages in England, when Ben Jonson received that honor in 1616. Remarkably, California had the first poet laureate in the U.S., honoring Ina Donna Coolbrith in 1915 through 1928. Forty states have state poets laureate.
The United States adopted the idea of a national poet laureate in 1937, officially called "Consultant in Poetry to the Library of Congress," then to "Poet Laureate consultant in Poetry" in 1986. In fall 2008, Northern California poet Kay Ryan succeeded Charles Simic as the 16th U.S. poet laureate.
California, and the greater Bay Area in particular, has had rapidly growing laureate programs. The nine-county area has more than half of the state's local (county, district or city) poets laureate. In 2001 Governor Gray Davis created the official position for the State of California, with a specific term, clear public responsibilities, and stipend. Carol Muske-Dukes (2009-2011) is the current State of California poet laureate.
The City of Dublin appointed Ronnie Holland as their first poet laureate in 2008. It is a two year community volunteer position.
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Photograph by Ronna Leon |
Related links:
- Wikipedia entry on history and list of all U.S. Poets Laureate
- California website of poets laureate photographs
- 7/17/08: Poet Kay Ryan is named (U.S.) poet laureate
