Kingfield library director named Maine poet laureate

AUGUSTA — Julia Bouwsma, director of Webster Library, in Kingfield, has been named Maine’s sixth poet laureate, the Maine Arts Commission announced.
“Following the review of 20 very accomplished applicants, we’re thrilled that Julia emerged as the poet to carry on Maine’s tradition of celebrating poetry by naming a State Poet Laureate,” said David Greenham, MCA executive director.
Bouwsma was selected following a review by a panel of five judges that included Gov. Janet Mills, North Haven author and poet Susan Minot, Maine Humanities Council Assistant Director Samaa Abdurraqib, Maine Writers and Publishers Executive Director Gibson Fay-LeBlanc and Maine State Library Executive Director James Ritter.
“Julia is a wonderful choice to be Maine’s poet laureate,” said Stuart Kestenbaum, who recently completed his term as poet laureate. “Her poems are remarkable in their focus and intensity and her training as a librarian will bring an added dimension to projects that she will develop.”
Bouwsma is the author of two poetry collections “Midden” (Fordham University Press, 2018) and “Work by Bloodlight” (Cider Press Review, 2017). She is the recipient of the 2019 and 2018 Maine Literary Awards for Poetry Book, the 2016-17 Poets Out Loud Prize, the 2015 Cider Press Review Book Award. She has received writing residencies from the Virginia Center for Creative Arts, Vermont Studio Center, Monson Arts, and Annex Arts in Castine.
The poet laureate position was established by Maine statute in 1995. The duties are minimal to ensure incumbents have maximum freedom to work on their own projects during their tenure. While the position does not include a stipend, all expenses are paid for appearances and programs, which include an annual lecture and poetry reading, participation in the Maine Arts Commission’s administration of the national Poetry Out Loud project and appearances and events to broaden appreciation and understanding of, and participation in, poetry in Maine communities.
Since the inception of the position, Maine’s poet laureates have included Kate Barnes (1996-1999), Baron Wormser (2000-2005), Betsy Sholl (2006-2011), Wesley McNair (2011-2016) and Kestenbaum (2016- 2021).