To be? No, not to be: DeSantis still hasn’t appointed a state poet laureate

Gov. Ron DeSantis is known for making high-profile appointments, including at New College of Florida and on the new panel that replaced Disney’s quasi-government Reedy Creek district, to name a few. 

There’s a lesser known pick, however, that the governor has yet to make – and, frankly, may never make: State Poet Laureate. Admittedly, it's not a barn-burner role in state government. But it's one that is in state law, nonetheless. 

State statute calls for a honorary (as in unpaid) state poet laureate to be appointed by the governor and serve a four-year term.

The law says the laureate will have “significant standing inside and outside the state” and be engaged “in outreach and mentoring for the benefit of schools and communities throughout the state and performing readings of his or her own poetry, as requested.”

The last poet laureate was Peter Meinke, named by then-Gov. Rick Scott, whose term was supposed to end in 2018. Meinke, who lives in St. Petersburg, is now 90. 

In an interview with City & State, he said he was most active in the role during his first four years, in which he wrote poetry about the Pulse Nightclub shooting and helped run an event where the student survivors of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting shared their own poetry about the tragedy. 

But, at his age, he said it's time for someone who could more easily travel to events around the state to take on the role. The DeSantis administration has not yet responded to a request for comment about plans to select a new laureate.

“I’m ready to retire and pass the mantle,” Meinke said. “It definitely shouldn’t be a lifetime appointment.”

Before he took the role, it used to be. Although the first state poet laureate was appointed in 1927, there have only been four in Florida’s history. The longest-tenured, Vivian Yeiser Laramore, held the role for over 44 years.

A couple of years ago, it looked like a new appointment was coming. According to the January-February 2021 issue of the Florida State Poets Association, five finalists were named. Then nothing happened. 

David Kirby, a Florida State University English professor, poet and one of the 2021 finalists, said he’s not holding his breath for an appointment anytime soon. 

“Poets represent everybody. In a time of partisan politics, I don't think you're gonna find anybody making any kind of political appointment that isn't partisan,” Kirby said.

Kirby and Meinke both have ideas about who they think would do well in the role. 

One of Meinke’s suggestions was Gloria Muñoz, the current poet laureate of St. Petersburg, a post Meinke also had. She just received a $50,000 award from the Academy of American Poets.

Kirby recommended Sean Sexton, another one of the 2021 finalists who splits time between the arts and operating a 600-acre cattle ranch in Indian River County.

Regardless of who the next poet laureate is, Kirby said having one helps to enrich people’s lives and unite them across their differences: “Poetry organizes your thoughts and allows you to understand them.” 

He added: “A poem is not going to tell you how to build a drone or make a casserole, but it helps express the hopes and dreams of everyone, regardless of race, creed, color or political party.”