Wisconsin

State Poet Laureate

In 2000, Wisconsin established a state poet laureate position, which is currently held by Brenda Cárdenas, who was appointed through December, 2027.

City and County Poets Laureate

Appleton

In 2025, Cathryn Cofell-Mutschler was appointed the inaugural poet laureate of Appleton.

Door County

Carrie and Peter Sherrill serve as poets laureate of Door County through 2027.

Milwaukee

In 2025, Shelly Conley was named the poet laureate of Milwaukee through 2026.

Madison

Steven Espada Dawson was named poet laureate of Madison, Wisconsin, in 2024. Dawson will serve a two-year term.

Bayfield

Ted Gephart served as the poet laureate of Bayfield, Wisconsin, through 2025.

Sheboygan

In 2025, Lisa Vihos was appointed poet laureate of Sheboygan.

Wasau

In 2025, Tiffany Rodriguez-Lee was appointed the second poet laureate Wausau, Wisconsin. She will serve a two-year term.

Kenosha and Racine

In 2025, the Kenosha/Racine Poets Laureate Program appointed Nico Moore as the Kenosha poet laureate and both Thomas Carr and Mary Skillings as the co-Racine poets laureate. Each will serve a two-year term.

Type	Title	State
Small Press	Parallel Press	Wisconsin
Literary Magazine	Porcupine Literary Arts Magazine	Wisconsin
Small Press	The University of Wisconsin Press	Wisconsin
Poetry-Friendly Bookstore	A Room of One’s Own	Wisconsin
Poetry-Friendly Bookstore	Avol’s Books	Wisconsin
Poetry-Friendly Bookstore	Half Price Books	Wisconsin
Poetry-Friendly Bookstore	Scholar’s Haven	Wisconsin
Literary Organization	Arts + Literature Laboratory (ALL)	Wisconsin
Poetry-Friendly Bookstore	Woodland Pattern Book Center	Wisconsin
Literary Organization	PortalWisconsin	Wisconsin

These are notes to lightning in my bedroom.
A star forged from linen thread and patches.
Purple, yellow, red like diamond suckers, children

of the star gleam on sweaty nights. The quilt unfolds 
against sheets, moving, warm clouds of Chinook. 
It covers my cuts, my red birch clusters under pine.

Under it your mouth begins a legend, 
and wide as the plain, I hope Wisconsin marshes 
promise your caress. The candle locks

us in forest smells, your cheek tattered
by shadow.

Roberta Hill Whiteman

1984

In Milwaukee it is snowing

on the golden statue 

of the 1970s television star

whose television house

was in Milwaukee 

and also on the Comet Cafe

and on the white museum 

the famous Spanish architect 

built with a glass 

elevator through it

and a room with a button

that when you press it

makes two wings

on the sides of the building 

more quickly than you might 

imagine mechanically 

rise like a clumsy

thoughtful bird 

thinking now

I am at last ready 

over the lake

that has many moods

to fly but it will not

and people ask

who are we who see 

so much evil and try

Matthew Zapruder

2011

After skimming the Sunday Times, Dad turned to the back of the magazine
and tore out the crossword puzzle for his mother in Wisconsin—

as routine as my calligraphy class on Saturdays, flute practice
exactly twenty minutes on school nights

and astringent twice daily. I loved the idea of puzzles
but never tried my hand as problem-solving rubbed up against rivalry—

Kimiko Hahn

2013

Poetry Near You

Wisconsin

Recent & Featured Listings

Nikki Wallschlaeger

Quan Barry

Dasha Kelly Hamilton

Poetry Near You

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Wisconsin

Recent & Featured Listings

Nikki Wallschlaeger

Quan Barry

Dasha Kelly Hamilton

Related Poems

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