Massachusetts Appoints First Ever State Poet Laureate
Regie Gibson has made history as the first poet laureate of Massachusetts. The announcement was made on May 30 during the opening of the Massachusetts Poetry Festival.
Governor Maura Healey and Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll named Gibson to the role. Healey praised him for using poetry to build strong communities.
Regie Gibson to Represent Poetry Across Massachusetts
Gibson will serve a two-year term. He was chosen from over 100 applicants. His duties include giving public readings and promoting poetry in schools and communities.
He will also lead creative projects and help schools improve poetry programs. Gibson said poetry allows people to understand their feelings and connect with others across time.
“Poetry is a dialogue with ourselves and others,” Gibson said during the announcement at the Peabody Essex Museum.
Deep Roots in Spoken Word and Black Tradition
Gibson is a spoken-word artist known for work that blends humor and history. He teaches at Berklee College of Music and Clark University. His performances span the United States, Europe and Cuba.
He sees poetry as a civic tool. “It helps us return to better civic spaces,” he told reporters.
The Influence of Blues and Family Storytelling
Gibson grew up with strong cultural influences. He was born in Mississippi and later moved to Chicago. His work draws deeply from the blues and African rhythms.
He calls blues the “stem cell” of American music. His great-grandfather, though unable to read, taught him rhymed stories that sparked his love for poetry.
“Blues deals with love, betrayal, celebration and death,” Gibson said. “It shaped my voice.”
Honors, Past Work and Future Projects
Gibson has received several awards. He published Storms Beneath the Skin in 2001. His past collaborations include the Handel and Haydn Society.
He plans to launch a project about the Middle Passage and another celebrating Massachusetts history. He wants poetry to play a role in both culture and economy.
“This state abolished slavery first,” he said. “Poetry brings out our better angels.”
Looking Ahead as Massachusetts’ First Poet Laureate
Gibson hopes to use poetry to inspire new ideas in many sectors. He believes the arts offer tools to unite people and spark economic growth.
He sees his appointment as a sign that Massachusetts values creativity. “This state has always wrestled with hard questions,” he said.
Gibson’s voice now stands at the center of that journey.
