Congratulations to Rena Priest, 2021-2023 Washington State Poet Laureate!

Sara Peté/ April 1, 2021/ Washington authors

Congratulations to Rena Priest
2021-2023 Washington State Poet Laureate!

In conjunction with National Poetry Month, poet Rena Priest has been appointed Washington State Poet Laureate by Governor Jay Inslee.

A member of the Lhaq’temish (Lummi) Nation, Priest will be the first Indigenous poet to assume the role. Priest’s literary debut, Patriarchy Blues, was honored with the 2018 American Book Award, and her most recent work is Sublime Subliminal.

Passing of the Laurel

April 14, 6 – 7 p.m.
The public is invited to a virtual celebration of Rena Priest’s appointment as Washington State’s 6th Poet Laureate. This very special event is organized and hosted by the Lhaq’temish (Lummi) Nation, Humanities Washington, ArtsWA (the WA State Arts Commission), and the Washington Center for the Book (a partnership of the Washington State Library and The Seattle Public Library). Past Laureates Claudia Castro Luna, Tod Marshall, Elizabeth Austen, Kathleen Flenniken, and Sam Green (in absentia) will be honored guests as we gather to pass the laurel in an evening of poetry, speech, and song. Produced by Children of the Setting Sun Productions. Register to attend the event.