Gov. Larry Hogan has appointed Grace Cavalieri, of Annapolis, to be Maryland’s new poet laureate.

“Her lifelong passion for and dedication to poetry and the arts is nothing short of astounding, and I’m confident Marylanders will enjoy her readings and develop a greater understanding and appreciation for poetry through her service,” Hogan said in a statement.

Cavalieri, 86, will be the state’s 10th poet laureate. She has published 24 books and chapbooks of poetry, produced 26 plays and hosted about 2,000 episodes of her radio show, “The Poet and the Poem,” over the last 42 years.

In her new position, Cavaleri said she wants to create a platform to promote Maryland poets, possibly through a blog she’d like to have set up for the work of Maryland poets to be published and streamed.

“My emphasis is really state poetry and I’m ready to go, really,” she said. “I want this to be something where we can keep the excitement happening and post things everyone can be a part of. I’m so glad to be given the energy for this new chapter of my life.”

The poet laureate was established by the General Assembly in 1959 to make poetry accessible to all Marylanders. The position involves giving public readings in every region of the state during the four-year term.

Maryland’s past poet laureates are Maria B. Coker, Vincent Godfrey Burns, Lucille Clifton, Reed Whittemore, Linda Pastan, Roland Flint, Michael Collier, Michael S. Glaser and Stanley Plumly.

ssanfelice@capgaznews.com

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