Meet Northampton's New Poet Laureate, Patrick Donnelly

Local poet, literary translator and Smith College lecturer Patrick Donnelly has recently been appointed Northampton’s seventh Poet Laureate. During his two-year term, Donnelly plans to hold free public speaking workshops for writers, events for local literary translators and at least one community recitation of a “choral poem,” a choreographed and performed group poem. Donnelly is also planning a benefit reading for A Positive Place, formerly AIDS CARE/ Hampshire County.

Watch the video below to learn more about Donnelly and hear him read one of his poems, “Low Door,” from his book, The Charge (2003). Donnelly’s other books include Nocturnes of the Brothel of Ruin (2012) and The Wind from Vulture Peak: The Buddhification of Japanese Waka in the Heian Period (2013), a Japanese poetry translation collaboration between Donnelly and his partner Stephen Miller.