Brandon woman named Vermont’s new poet laureate

MONTPELIER, Vt. (WCAX) - A Brandon woman is joining the likes of Robert Frost as Vermont’s next poet laureate.

Gov. Phil Scott announced award-winning poet and teacher Bianca Stone will be Vermont’s poetry ambassador for the next four years.

“The Poet Laureate has a storied history in Vermont, beginning with Robert Frost, and I want to congratulate Bianca Stone on receiving this important recognition,” Scott, R-Vermont, said in a statement.

Stone is the author of five books, garnering a 2022 Vermont Book Award win, and she has appeared in publications like the New Yorker and the Atlantic.

Stone says she hopes to increase awareness of the power of poetry and would like to engage with teachers, students and librarians to get people involved with poetry in areas that may not necessarily engage with it.

“Poetry brings the inner and outer world together and translates consciousness itself onto the page. It is not only relevant to our lives, but crucial in exploring what it is to be in this world,” Stone said in a statement. “It is perhaps one of the most playful and serious mediums we have. But it is often misunderstood.”

Bianca Stone’s grandmother, Ruth Stone, was Vermont’s poet laureate from 2007-2011. Mary Ruefle is the most recent poet laureate.

Our Cat Viglienzoni spoke with Bianca Stone about the honor. Watch the video to see their full conversation.

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