The University of Arizona Press
December 7, 2023
The City of Durango, Colorado, named Esther Belin as its first-ever Poet Laureate. She has lived in Durango since 1997, and has published two poetry books: From the Belly of My Beauty and Of Cartography. Belin is also one of the editors of The Diné Reader: An Anthology of Navajo Literature.
High school student Zoe Golden was named the Rising Poet Laureate. Starting January 1, 2024, the Poets Laureate will provide a constant presence of poetry at community events. A poetry column in Durango’s newspaper, The Telegraph, and poetry installations on city buses will contribute to that presence, to “bring the magic of poetry to everyday life,” according to a press release from the Durango Poet Laureate Program.
Durango Public Library Supervisor Daisy Grice said, “We are so excited to see the poets in action starting next year. We think there will be an aura of more poetry around Durango, hopefully fostering a sense of creativity and beauty.”
Congratulations Esther!
