The Associated Press article on Dick Allen ("Connecticut's state poet laureate") follows. You'll find a Dick Allen poem in Amy Gerstler's forthcoming selection for the 2010 edition of The Best American Poetry.
Readers, please feel free to comment enthusiastically on the choice of Gerstler (left) as guest editor of BAP 2010, on Dick Allen's appointment as Connecticut's poet laureate, on BAP stalwart W. S. Merwin (below right)
, who was recently named U. S. Poet Laureate, or on a subject seemingly far removed from these concerns: the greatness of Bernard Herrmann's music in Vertigo, Marnie, and Psycho. Jack Sullivan's book Hitchcock's Music is outstanding. I've long meant to plug it and I'm finally seizing the chance to do so today. I'm sure that somebody out there is clever enough to discern the logical connection linking these disparate phenomena. -- DL
HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — A retired University of Bridgeport professor and winner of the prestigious Pushcart and Robert Frost prizes is becoming Connecticut's state poet laureate.
Dick Allen of Trumbull was picked from 12 nominees considered by the Connecticut Commission on Culture and Tourism, which recently announced his appointment.
The 70-year-old National Endowment for the Arts fellowship winner has also had six pieces included in The Best American Poetry annual volumes.
Connecticut's poet laureate is paid $1,000 annually over a five-year term. The legislature created the post in 1985 to promote the appreciation of poetry and literary arts.
The poet laureate presents at least one annual public event and often writes original pieces for gubernatorial inaugurations and other major events.
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