Wyoming

In 1981, Wyoming established a state poet laureate position, which is currently held by Eugene M. Gagliano, who was appointed to a two-year term in 2016. Gagliano is the author of two books of poetry, including the collection of children's poems My Teacher Dances on the Desk (Sleeping Bear Press, 2009), and is the recipient of the International Reading Association's 2004 Wyoming State Literacy Award.

Type	Title	State
Literary Organization	Wyoming Arts Council	Wyoming
Literary Organization	Wyoming Writers, Inc.	Wyoming
Literary Organization	WyoPoets	Wyoming
Conference	Jackson Hole Writers' Conference	Wyoming
Small Press	High Plains Press	Wyoming
Literary Magazine	Owen Wister Review	Wyoming
Writing Program	University of Wyoming	Wyoming
Colony	Ucross Foundation	Wyoming
Colony	Jentel Artist Residency Program	Wyoming
Poetry-Friendly Bookstore	Personally Recommended Books/The Second Story	Wyoming

Mortal Limit

I saw the hawk ride updraft in the sunset over Wyoming.
It rose from coniferous darkness, past gray jags
Of mercilessness, past whiteness, into the gloaming
Of dream-spectral light above the lazy purity of snow-snags.

There—west—were the Tetons.  Snow-peaks would soon be
In dark profile to break constellations.  Beyond what height
Hangs now the black speck?

Robert Penn Warren

1985

Epistle: Leaving

Dear train wreck, dear terrible engines, dear spilled freight,
          dear unbelievable mess, all these years later I think
          to write back. I was not who I am now. A sail is a boat,
          a bark is a boat, a mast is a boat and the train was you and me.
          Dear dark, dear paper, dear files I can't toss, dear calendar
          and visitation schedule, dear hello and goodbye.
If a life is one thing and then another; if no grasses grow
          through the tracks; if the train wreck is a red herring;

Kerrin McCadden

2013

National Politics in Yellowstone Park, July 29, 1914

Ed Trafton turns from the shimmering water
of Shoshone Lake to the first of fifteen tourist coaches,
pulls the black silk neckerchief up the bridge of his nose,
plants himself in the road and says, “Please step out
and come this way.” Black is so hot. “Drop your valuables
on the blanket.” Maybe the neckerchief isn’t necessary.
“Kindly take a standing seat and witness the convention.”

David Romtvedt

2016

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Mortal Limit

Epistle: Leaving

National Politics in Yellowstone Park, July 29, 1914

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Mortal Limit

Epistle: Leaving

National Politics in Yellowstone Park, July 29, 1914

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