The speaking engagements are piling up for Joyce Sutphen, professor of English who was named Minnesota’s Poet Laureate on August 23 by Governor Mark Dayton. “It’s amazing how many people have called me and sent e-mail messages,” Sutphen said. Since her appointment, she has received several requests from schools, libraries, teachers and fellow poets across the state to set up talks and other events.

“At this point, I’m still answering all those people who have called me and saying ‘yes’ to as many as I can. I’m going to have to be my own secretary, but I’m going to have to be a good one because there’s a lot going on this year,” she said. “I’m taking it as it comes.”

Sutphen and several of her friends and colleagues in the poetry world have been brainstorming the possibility of a large poetry reading sometime within the year.

Sutphen succeeds Robert Bly, appointed in 2007 by former governor Tim Pawlenty, as the second poet laureate for the state. “I feel so overwhelmed following him because of his reputation, but then I have to put it in perspective and think that all of our reputations are slight comparatively,” she said.

When Sutphen first learned of her appointment, she said she was taken off guard. “I was surprised and a little bit apprehensive, because I thought there are so many people I could think of right away who had been in the poetry scene longer, wracked up more points … I thought, how did they think of me?” Her colleagues, however, feel the honor is well deserved.

“Her poems are beautiful enough to be admired because of their form or cadence, but they invite every single reader who encounters them – not just those who have studied her poetry formally – to really allow the language to get inside them,” Associate Professor and Chair of the English Department Rebecca Fremo said.

“[She deserves this honor because] she is recognized not only by the very strong and active literary community here in this region, but nationally and internationally recognized, as perhaps among the best poets in this country,” Professor of English Phil Bryant said.

Sutphen hopes to create a ripple effect of appreciation for poetry while serving as poet laureate. “[I want to extend] the invitation for people to not be afraid of poetry, to feel comfortable and enthusiastic about it,” she said.

“I think she’ll try to help draw attention to the fact that poetry is alive and well here, that on any given day, there are dozens of poets writing and sharing their work with readers,” Fremo said.

Sutphen describes certain poems as “compasses” or “stabilizing sources” for each individual. “[These kind of poems] keep you upright and steady … I think everyone would benefit from having some poems that they tuck away, whatever they might be,” she said.

Sutphen is admired by her colleagues not only as a poet and educator, but as a whole person. “She’s incredibly kind, empathetic, insightful and bright. She sees things in ways that nobody else does, and we (her colleagues), all benefit from that kind of vision,” Fremo said. “Plus, she’s funny. I’m not sure how many people realize what a wonderful sense of humor she has.”

“She is generous, supportive, kind and compassionate to a fault and positive beyond measure. I consider myself most privileged to have this great poet as a colleague and friend for the last 19 years or so,” Bryant said.