Poet Laureate

During their three-year term, the Poet Laureate seeks to raise the town consciousness to a greater appreciation of the reading and writing of poetry. This is an appointed position. Poets Laureate must give a reading or presentation to inaugurate their term and to close their term. Leading poetry workshops, organizing and participating in reading series, visiting local schools, and attending conferences are some of the ways laureates typically fulfill their duties. If you are interested in applying for the position of Poet Laureate of Woodbury, please download an application HERE

For more information about the Poet Laureate, please contact the library by phone or Email.

Our current Poet Laureate is Sandy Carlson.

Sandy Carlson is a writer, teacher, life-long learner, rug hooker, genealogical hobbyist, and a native of Connecticut, where her family has deep roots, including ties to Woodbury dating back to the Revolutionary War. She and her husband have lived 23 years in Woodbury, where they raised their daughter, a three-time all-state and two-time all-America clarinet player while at Nonnewaug High School.

All her life, Sandy has marveled at the power (magic?) of language to connect people to each other, to deepen relationships, and to open thinking; how well-chosen words in the right place for a right purpose become eternal touchstones of the experience of living. Words are precious jewels, she says, and they are sacred–to be respected, treasured, and used with extreme care. She writes every day, searching for the magic and hopes she will find it or it her.

A graduate of Western Connecticut State University and the University College, Dublin, Sandy lived in Ireland for several years, years rich in experience and adventure that continue to inform the way she looks at life. Upon returning to the states, Sandy wrote for several years for the American Irish Political Education Committee and the award-winning Housatonic Valley Publishing chain of weekly newspapers. She has been published in several academic journals, poetry journals, and magazines. In addition, she has written four books of poetry dedicated to the love, humor, tragedy, and history of family, all of which are available on Amazon. Sandy enjoys good cups of coffee and lavender chai tea lattes, trips to the beach, walks in the woods, gardening, spending time with her dogs, and sitting on the back deck or front porch with a good book, magazine, or writing journal. For more about Sandy and her work, visit her website and blogs.