Swampscott Opens 2027 Poet Laureate Submission Process

SWAMPSCOTT, MA — The Swampscott Poet Laureate selection committee is calling for submissions from town residents who want to be considered for the position in 2027-28.

Applicants must submit three poems that are representative of their work. The committee is asking for two files, one with no attribution of authorship and another with attribution for all three poems.

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The poems must be original work, though they may have been published if the author retained the rights.

Each poem may be any style, and no poem can exceed 40 lines. There is no minimum length requirement. The person submitting work must be a Swampscott resident who is 21 or older and, because of the nature of the position, must plan to live in town during the two-year term.

The appointment is set to begin in January 2027.

The appointee will provide community programs while serving as Poet Laureate. Those events or projects are intended to increase public knowledge, interest and appreciation of poetry in town.

The submission period will run through midnight on Sept. 25, 2026. Residents can send materials electronically to poetlaureate@swampscottma.gov.

Hard-copy submissions will also be accepted. They should be addressed to the Swampscott Public Library, 61 Burrill Street, Swampscott, MA 01907, with "Poet Laureate" written on the bottom of the envelope.