Oh big congrats from this fan in Australia. You have touched many lives. I spent two hours this morning handing out fliers about the upcoming referendum our national government is holding to recognize First Nations people in our constitution, a no-brained you’d think. Your newsletters are that extra reminder of the debt we owe, the journey we must continue to take and our overwhelming need to listen.
This is exactly why I live, to see the truth of honest artists and poets take over the world one day at a time. Congratulations dear friend. Very well deserved. 💜🌼
Congratulations! A good week for Montana! With your coronation as the poet laureate for Montana following on the Held v. Montana decision... it might just make me hopeful for a more sane and kind Montana. I look forward to seeing where you take this honor and opportunity.
“I write for other people with the hope that I can help them to see the wonderful things within their everyday experiences. In short, I want to show people how interesting the ordinary world can be if you pay attention.” Ted Kooser, US Poet Laureate 2004
"It’s just a way of living in the world. If you live an Anishinaabe life, every footstep becomes a prayer. If you live a life of poetry, every footstep becomes a poem, every word becomes a poem, every action becomes a poem because you are paying attention and you are caring about what you are paying attention to." Chris La Tray, Montana Poet Laureate 2023 - 2024
Kudos Chris. So well deserved. And give Gov. Gianforte credit also for some great historic preservation actions he is personally taking . . . leading fundraising for the new Montana Heritage Center, the Stonewall Hall in Virginia City, etc. So set the new standard for Poet Laureate
WOOHOO!!! Well-deserved!
I am reminded of this marvelous poem by Bobby Lefebre (forgive me if you already know it):
They invite me to a thing where the men in suits
all look the same, and they twirl and clink wine
glasses as the cheese sits next to the olives on
plates too small to fill anything but image—
everyone is secretly starting, and they laugh at
each other's jokes even though they are not
funny, they talk about golf and last quarter's
returns, and they ask me to read something that
is joyful and festive and celebratory, something
inspiring that will make people feel good about
gathering, but 50 migrants just died in a truck
at the border, and the Supreme Court is an active
shooter, and the police filled another Black man
with 60 holes, and I am not a typical poet, but
the elders have taught us that the job of an
artist is to reflect the times, so I get on that
stage and I do what I do the only way I know how,
and when I am done, someone tells me the position
of Poet Laureate is supposed to be apolitical,
and I say, "maybe it is, but I am not," and
sometimes, the only thing better than a standing
ovation is a room full of silence. A mentor once
told me that sometimes your job as an artist is
to be invited somewhere and ensure they never
invite you back.
So fucking awesome!!!
Congratulations! You will bring so much to the position.
Oh big congrats from this fan in Australia. You have touched many lives. I spent two hours this morning handing out fliers about the upcoming referendum our national government is holding to recognize First Nations people in our constitution, a no-brained you’d think. Your newsletters are that extra reminder of the debt we owe, the journey we must continue to take and our overwhelming need to listen.
Hell yeah Chris.
This is exactly why I live, to see the truth of honest artists and poets take over the world one day at a time. Congratulations dear friend. Very well deserved. 💜🌼
Well deserved!!!
Congratulations! A good week for Montana! With your coronation as the poet laureate for Montana following on the Held v. Montana decision... it might just make me hopeful for a more sane and kind Montana. I look forward to seeing where you take this honor and opportunity.
Oh, wow! This is the best. Congratulations, Chris. I know you will make this position your own and do meaningful things with it.
Congratulations Chris! You’ll be a wonderful addition to your state’s poet laureates. 👏
One muse speaks and another muse listens.
“I write for other people with the hope that I can help them to see the wonderful things within their everyday experiences. In short, I want to show people how interesting the ordinary world can be if you pay attention.” Ted Kooser, US Poet Laureate 2004
"It’s just a way of living in the world. If you live an Anishinaabe life, every footstep becomes a prayer. If you live a life of poetry, every footstep becomes a poem, every word becomes a poem, every action becomes a poem because you are paying attention and you are caring about what you are paying attention to." Chris La Tray, Montana Poet Laureate 2023 - 2024
Kudos Chris. So well deserved. And give Gov. Gianforte credit also for some great historic preservation actions he is personally taking . . . leading fundraising for the new Montana Heritage Center, the Stonewall Hall in Virginia City, etc. So set the new standard for Poet Laureate
This is fantastic. So well-deserved. I’m so happy for you and for the people of Montana. They’ve got a kick-ass poet laureate!
The best of all possible news! Congratulations, and so well deserved. We'll all celebrate when you're over here in October ...
Too much, Chris! I have nothing more to say. Heartiest congrats my friend!
Wow, Chris! Congratulations! Great work.