[September 15, 2009]
2010 Texas State Poet Laureate Karla K. Morton is hitting the road September 17, launching her Little Town, Texas Tour across the state to serve as an ambassador of poetry. The first stop will be Morton's alma mater, Mansfield High School.
The tour's main mission is to bring poetry to teens across Texas, making poetry more accessible and relevant to students, especially in towns that may be underserved in the arts. Morton will host a “Day of Poetry” in different cities, partnering with schools, libraries, community centers and other venues across the state.
Ms. Morton's schedule in Mansfield ISD will include the following:
- Mansfield High School - Fom 10:40 am - 12:55 pm on Thursday, September 17, Karla Morton will share her poetry and creative writing expertise in the school library with students in journalism, senior AP English, and creative writing classes.
- Mansfield Timberview High School - At 1:00 pm on Thursday, September 17, Ms. Morton will be in the library to read and talk about poetry as well as the creative writing process.
Morton's long-term goal as part of the Little Town, Texas Tour is to create and publish a book to include her own poems about the towns she visits and the first place student poem or artwork winner from each town on the tour.
Morton is the first woman named as Texas State Poet Laureate in more than fifteen years. Described as a “celebrated poet” in the bill presented to the Texas State Legislature, she has been widely published in literary journals and serves as a board member of the Greater Denton Arts Council and a founding member and officer of the Denton Poets' Assembly (part of the Poetry Society of Texas). She loves to promote poetry, and has read her work across Texas, performing at such venues as schools, universities, bookstores and festivals. |
