Allen Morris Jones
Montana Poet Laureate
On September 25, 2025 Governor Gianforte named Allen Morris Jones of Bozeman to serve as Montana’s Poet Laureate for 2025–2027.
A 30-year veteran of writing and publishing, Jones has published more than 100 poems, essays, profiles, short stories and incidental pieces. His most recent book of poetry, Mumblecusser (Drumlummon Institute, 2023) won the High Plains Book Award, and was his second book to be named an honor book by the Montana Book Awards.
Allen Jones is thrilled to be carrying on the work of previous poets laureate like Mark Gibbons, Mandy Smoker Broaddus, Melissa Kwasny, and Chris La Tray. “I’ve watched as some of the finest writers in the country have sat in this laureate chair and advocated for poetry and literature even while shaping the public dialogue. I’m grateful that I now have the opportunity to continue their work.”
Jones is the owner/publisher of Bangtail Press, which has published Montana writers like Paul Zarzyski, Rick DeMarinis, Aaron Parrett, and Russell Rowland. He was previously an acquiring editor for Globe Pequot Press/The Lyons Press, editor of Big Sky Journal and Books and Writers editor at New West. His first two novels (Last Year’s River and A Bloom of Bones) earned high acclaim, and his first children’s book, Montana for Kids, won a Spur Award from the Western Writers of America.
Montana, Allen said, has one of the richest poetry traditions in America. “Going back at least to Richard Hugo, our writers have taught us how to see the landscape and our history, and helped us understand our place in both.”
Jones carries on the poet laureate baton from Métis poet and storyteller Chris La Tray, author of the award-winning memoir, Becoming Little Shell. In his two years as poet laureate, La Tray logged thousands of miles teaching and speaking about heritage, the land, and the importance of Indigenous languages.
Allen Morris Jones’ website: Allen Morris Jones — Author, Editor, Publisher
Allen Morris Jones' Substack is here: Storytelling for Human Beings | Allen Morris Jones | Substack
About the Poet Laureate Program
The post of Montana Poet Laureate, created by the legislature in 2005, honors a citizen poet of exceptional talent and accomplishment. Nominations are submitted by citizens and reviewed by a committee of governor-appointed Arts Council members. The Poet Laureate of Montana is then selected by the Governor. Each poet laureate develops a program for his or her term designed to share and support the creation of poetry with the people of Montana, through personal appearances, virtual events, educational outreach, and other venues.
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.
Poet Laureate FAQ
Who is the Poet Laureate and what does the Poet Laureate do?
The position of Poet Laureate is an honorific one. Advancing and supporting the poetic arts involves reaching out to and beyond the art and literary communities in Montana to promote the appreciation of poetry as an ancient and ongoing form of expression.
Humanities Montana will invite the Poet Laureate to join its Speaker's Bureau program.
Who is eligible to be nominated Poet Laureate of Montana?
Anyone of the state of Montana may nominate a poet for the Poet Laureate position. Nominations for Montana's Poet Laureate will be considered for poets who meet the following eligibility requirements:
The poet must currently reside in Montana and have been a resident for at least one year. Montana Arts Council members, staff, or their immediate family or household are not eligible.
What is the selection process for the Poet Laureate?
A panel drawn from members of the literary community select finalists from among the nominations. The finalists are submitted to the Montana Arts Council board for review and approval. The Poet Laureate of Montana is then chosen by the Governor from among these nominees during the summer.
How will Poet Laureate nominations be evaluated?
The Poet Laureate is chosen on the basis of three criteria:
- Artistic excellence and achievement
- Ongoing contributions to the cultural community
- Worthiness of statewide recognition
Poets In Montana
Former Poet Laureate Mark Gibbons took the 2020 pandemic in stride, using his platform to create an incredible resource. Called "Poets In Montana," Mark recorded a series of conversations with more than 60 esteemed Montana poets. The series was produced in collaboration with MCAT Community Media.
