228 Comments
Aug 16, 2023Liked by Chris La Tray

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.

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No forgiveness necessary! Miigwech for sharing the poem!

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So fucking awesome!!!

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❤️

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Aug 16, 2023Liked by Chris La Tray

Congratulations! You will bring so much to the position.

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Aug 16, 2023Liked by Chris La Tray

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.

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Jessica, Miigwech. And chi-Miigwech for your efforts there. Truly. ✊🏽

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Hell yeah Chris.

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✊🏽

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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. 💜🌼

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Miigwech, Swarnali. So much gratitude and love for you, my friend. 🙏🏽

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Miigwech Chris for being you!

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Aug 16, 2023Liked by Chris La Tray

Well deserved!!!

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founding
Aug 16, 2023Liked by Chris La Tray

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.

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The Held thing really is a triumph.

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Oh, wow! This is the best. Congratulations, Chris. I know you will make this position your own and do meaningful things with it.

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✊🏽

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Congratulations Chris! You’ll be a wonderful addition to your state’s poet laureates. 👏

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💚

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Aug 16, 2023Liked by Chris La Tray

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

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That Kooser guy really knows a thing or two about a thing or two, doesn’t he?

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So does that La Tray Guy👍

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Aug 16, 2023Liked by Chris La Tray

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

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Well said, Ken.

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Aug 16, 2023Liked by Chris La Tray

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!

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The best of all possible news! Congratulations, and so well deserved. We'll all celebrate when you're over here in October ...

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I’m looking forward to that, Charlotte....

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Aug 16, 2023Liked by Chris La Tray

Too much, Chris! I have nothing more to say. Heartiest congrats my friend!

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Miigwech, Jim!

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Wow, Chris! Congratulations! Great work.

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✊🏽

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