This Place the Gods Touched Earth
Montana's Poet Laureate Anthology
Every two years since 2005, Montana has bestowed a special title on one of its many talented writers: Montana Poet Laureate. The post was created to honor exemplary poets from the Big Sky who write, read, and teach this most ancient of artforms— the written and spoken word. There’s no better way to celebrate these distinguished talents than by sharing their work.
The Montana Arts Council has published the first anthology collecting work from each of Montana’s poets laureate, past and present. Selected by the authors themselves, the poems presented in This Place the Gods Touched Earth represent a vibrant chorus of voices singing the praises and pitfalls of life in this place we call Montana. Produced in partnership with the Montana Historical Society Press, This Place the Gods Touched Earth celebrates the writing and reading of poetry, but also the work of poetry—travel to all corners of the state, teaching this craft to new poets, advocating for literacy and support of this most vital art.
Publishing in November 2024, This Place the Gods Touched Earth features an introductory essay by current Montana Poet Laureate Chris La Tray, and includes biographies, short essays, and the selected works of our poets laureate to date. You can find it at independent bookstores or by ordering online from Farcountry Press or the Montana Historical Society Press.
A launch event is planned for Wednesday, November 20th at 6pm at the Myrna Loy in Helena. Please join us in celebrating these treasured poets and their words which evoke, capture, lament, and embrace this place the gods touched earth.
