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Boston Globe

Regie Gibson selected as state's inaugural poet laureate

'He sees his poetry as a means of bringing people together, finding common ground and building stronger communities,' she said in a statement. Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up Massachusetts, a state of deep literary traditions, was previously one of the few states without a designated poet laureate, though several municipalities have local poet laureates. Advertisement As state poet laureate, Lt. Gov. Driscoll said the state was lucky to have Gibson in the role, calling his selection 'an exciting step toward promoting creative expression from the Berkshires to the Cape.' Gibson, of Lexington, currently serves as co-artistic director at Advertisement He has performed his work in a variety of venues, and his poetry has appeared in numerous journals, including The Iowa Review and Poetry Magazine. His is the author of the 2001 poetry volume, 'Storms Beneath the Skin.' Referencing 'As Massachusetts inaugural Poet Laureate, I see it as my charge to do all I can to make sure there will be another and another and another!,' he said in a statement. Now in its 13th year, the biennial Massachusetts Poetry Festival unfolds this weekend with more than 60 events at venues across Salem. In addition to Gibson, the festival will include poets including Mass Poetry executive director Daniel Johnson said Gibson has been involved with the organization for years, even serving as the group's poet-in-residence. 'He's one of those poets I always looked up to,' said Johnson. 'Anytime I've seen Reggie perform, I just know it's going to be -- it can feel kind of intergalactic, you know, kind of cosmic even.' Mass Cultural Council executive director Michael J. Bobbitt called Gibson's appointment 'groundbreaking,' describing the poet as 'an extraordinary talent whose voice resonates with truth, creativity, and hope.' Characterizing the power of poetry, Gibson called the art form 'a sustained dialogue with ourselves across time.' Advertisement With poetry, 'we get a clearer sense of our own thoughts, feelings, and inner music – but also, our inspirations, aspirations and desperations,' he said, 'not only OURS, but of many who have walked before us – and, many who will walk after.' Malcolm Gay can be reached at