Poetry

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African-American woman in turban and hoop earrings behind orchid
Maya Angelou (1928–2014)
aka: Marguerite Annie Johnson
Maya Angelou was an internationally renowned bestselling author, po...
George Pool Ballard (1882–1951)
George Pool Ballard published poems in newspapers in Fayetteville (Washington County) as well as a poetry coll...
besmilr moore brigham (1913–2000)
aka: Bess Miller Moore
Besmilr Moore Brigham was an award-winning poet and short-story wri...
Bearded white man in denim shirt with snaps staring off into the distance
Greg Alan Brownderville (1976–)
Arkansas poet Greg Alan Brownderville has published three award-winning books of poetry and folklore and creat...
Sidney Burris (1953–)
Sidney Johnson Burris is a prolific writer of essays, criticism, and poetry. His poetry is as influenced by hi...
Irene Jones Carlisle (1908–2006)
Originally from Texas, Irene Carlisle lived much of her life in Fayetteville (Washington County), where she be...
African-American man with sideburns and mustache in suit and tie
Frank Barbour Coffin (1870–1951)
Frank Barbour Coffin was an African American pharmacist who owned and operated one of the earliest drugstores ...
dark-haired woman with chin in hand
Kai Coggin (1980–)
Kai Coggin is a queer, Filipina American poet, author, educator, activist, and Certified Arkansas Master Natur...
White woman with long hair speaking at lectern
Hope Norman Coulter (1961–)
Little Rock (Pulaski County) author Hope Coulter is a novelist, short-story writer, poet, children’s book au...
Charles T. Davis (1888–1945)
Charles T. Davis was the first poet laureate of Arkansas. C. T. Davis was born on March 26, 1888, at Dardanell...
White man in glasses and woman in large necklace smiling
Beverley Githens Dresbach (1903–1971)
Beverley Githens Dresbach was a poet and journalist who lived in Eureka Springs (Carroll County) with her husb...
White man in glasses and woman in large necklace smiling
Glenn Ward Dresbach (1889–1968)
Glenn Ward Dresbach was an internationally known poet with ten books to his credit when he moved to Eureka Spr...
African-American man in a suit and tie
Henry Dumas (1934–1968)
Henry Dumas was a critically acclaimed author of poetry and fiction who captured, in some of his finest work, ...
Middle-aged white man posing in suit and tie
John Gould Fletcher (1886–1950)
John Gould Fletcher, poet and essayist, is widely acknowledged as one of the state’s most notable literary f...
line drawing of white man with mustache and glasses on book cover
Edsel Ford (1928–1970)
Although Edsel Ford did not arrive in the Arkansas Ozarks until the age of eleven, he lived most of his adult...
Book cover green inchworm "Miller Williams Halfway from Hoxie New and Selected Poems"
Halfway from Hoxie
Published in 1973, Halfway from Hoxie: New and Selected Poems was Miller Williams’s fifth collection of poet...
White man with mustache standing in military uniform
Fay Hempstead (1847–1934)
Fay Hempstead was an attorney, a poet, and a Mason who spent much of his life in the service of the Grand Lodg...
Older white woman in white dress with brooch and loop earrings
Verna Lee Linxwiler Hinegardner (1919–2012)
Verna Lee Linxwiler Hinegardner was appointed the poet laureate of Arkansas in 1991 by Governor Bill Clinton a...
White woman smiling round glasses curly hair red jacket necklace holding booklet titled "Poetry"
Andrea Hollander (1947–)
aka: Andrea Hollander Budy
Poet and teacher Andrea Hollander served as the writer-in-residenc...
Paul Lake (1951–)
Paul Lake is a poet, novelist, and professor residing in Russellville (Pope County). He received the Porter Pr...
line drawing of white man with mustache and glasses on book cover
Looking for Shiloh
Looking for Shiloh (1968) was the last collection of poetry published by Edsel Ford before his death at the ag...
mostly African American group of men sit around table surrounded by filled bookshelves and looking at instructor standing next to chalk board
Haki R. Madhubuti (1942–)
aka: Donald Luther Lee
Haki R. Madhubuti is a renowned African-American writer, poet, and ...
Print with owl illustration and captions titled "Think and Wink!" by "Rosa Zagnoni Marinoni"
Rosa Zagnoni Marinoni (1888–1970)
Rosa Zagnoni Marinoni was poet laureate of Arkansas from 1953 to 1970. A prolific poet herself, she worked to ...
white woman in glasses wearing red beads around her neck and a black top
Jo Garot McDougall (1935–)
Jo Garot McDougall is a poet of the Arkansas Delta. Her work is noted for its sparseness and evocation of smal...
African-American woman smiling in dress and shell necklace
Patricia Washington McGraw (1935–2025)
Patricia Washington McGraw, a scholar, professor, and author, made a significant impact throughout the country...
White woman in hat and dress leaning on closed parasol outside brick building
Lucy Byrd Mock (1876–1966)
Lucy Byrd Mock, a native of Prairie Grove (Washington County), set numerous records as a golfer, established t...
Rebecca Newth (1940–)
aka: Rebecca Newth Harrison
Rebecca Newth Harrison is a writer working in Fayetteville (Washing...
Book cover featuring concrete structure with pipes
One With Others
One With Others is C. D. Wright’s 2010 book of investigative, documentary poetry chronicling the life of her...
Older white woman with pearl necklace and dress
Lily Peter (1891–1991)
Lily Peter, state poet laureate, was a distinguished author, successful farmer, teacher, musician, conservatio...
Portrait white man in suit military medal long wavy hair thick beard smoking large pipe
Albert Pike (1809–1891)
Albert Pike was a lawyer who played a major role in the development of the early courts of Arkansas and played...
White woman speaking at podium marked "Great Seal of the State of Arkansas" with ten microphones
Poets Laureate of Arkansas
The position of Poet Laureate of Arkansas was established on October 10, 1923, by concurrent resolutions of bo...
"J. R. Ridge" newspaper clipping
John Rollin Ridge (1827–1867)
John Rollin Ridge was a Cherokee/Puritan novelist, poet, essayist, and newspaper editor who is recognized as t...