Poet, former U-M instructor Donald Hall appointed Poet Laureate

Updated 10:00 AM June 26, 2006

Poet, former U-M instructor Donald Hall appointed Poet Laureate

By Kevin Brown

The appointment of Donald Hall as the Library of Congress 14th Poet Laureate sparked upbeat responses from faculty at U-M, some of whom worked with Hall when he taught here from 1957-75.

"It seems everyone I've mentioned it to is simply pleased," said Keith Taylor, lecturer in English language and literature, poet, and undergraduate creative writing program coordinator. "Hall left almost universal good feelings behind him here. Hall certainly deserves it, and he is a poet who will also appreciate the honor. He has done very good work for a long time."

On making the appointment, Librarian of Congress James H. Billington said, "Donald Hall is one of America's most distinctive and respected literary figures. For more than 50 years he has written beautiful poetry on a wide variety of subjects that are often distinctly American and conveyed with passion."

"I'm happy to be able to spend some time promoting poetry in the United States," Hall says, responding to his appointment. "I've been spending a lot of time doing it for years, but this time I have a built-in platform."

After leaving U-M for New Hampshire, Hall returned often to give readings and once to give the Hopwood lecture. "He was back twice in 2005 to push his new book—the first time at a small poorly advertised event at Borders and the second to a much bigger audience at the Ann Arbor Book Festival," Taylor said, adding he moderated a question-answer session with Hall.

"Hall absolutely believes that poetry is essential. He knows that people from all walks of life can understand and appreciate it. He can communicate this without being pedantic or elitist. In many ways, and given what the Poet Laureate role has become in the U.S., Hall is perfect for the job," Taylor said.

Hall will take up his duties in the fall, opening the Library's annual literary series in October with a reading of his work. He also will be a featured speaker at the Library of Congress National Book Festival poetry pavilion on Saturday, Sept. 30, on the National Mall in Washington, D.C.

Hall has published 15 books of poetry, beginning with "Exiles and Marriages" in 1955. Earlier this year he introduced "White Apples and the Taste of Stone" (Houghton Mifflin), a selection of poems from 1946-2006. In 2005 he published "The Best Day The Worst Day," a memoir of his marriage to the poet Jane Kenyon, who died in 1995.

Among his children's books, "Ox-Cart Man" won the Caldecott Medal. Included in his many books of prose are his essays on poetry, "Breakfast Served Any Time All Day" (2003).

For his poems he has received the Lenore Marshall/Nation Award, the National Book Critics Circle Award, the Los Angeles Times Book Award and the Ruth Lilly Prize for Poetry. He also has received two fellowships from the Guggenheim Foundation. He is a member of the Academy of Arts and Letters.

Hall succeeds Ted Kooser as Poet Laureate and joins a long line of distinguished poets who have served in the position, including most recently Louise Glück, Billy Collins, Stanley Kunitz, Robert Pinsky, Robert Hass and Rita Dove.

Born in Connecticut in 1928, Hall has two children and five grandchildren.

Poet, former U-M instructor Donald Hall appointed Poet Laureate

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