South Dakota is without a poet laureate.
State law requires the South Dakota State Poetry Society to make a recommendation to the governor’s office for approval.
Poetry society president Dana Yost said Gov. Kristi Noem rejected the board’s first proposed candidate and didn’t respond to a second recommendation.
The next poet laureate term was set to begin July 1.
“So far as we are concerned, with the deadline having come and gone, we will go without a poet laureate for the next four years," Yost said. "It’s an important cultural position in the state. South Dakota has had a poet laureate since 1926. That person is a leading advocate not only for poetry, but for the arts. It’s a very important position, and it’s just disappointing that we’re going to go vacant for four years.”
The governor is not required by law to approve the poetry society's recommendation.
Former South Dakota Poet Laureate Christine Stewart said since the laureate is not a paid position, whomever is chosen must be an effective collaborator as well as a poet of merit.
“It makes me really sad that the board’s choice didn’t get confirmed by the governor. I know the board knew they could work with their choice. They believed in that person’s track record, the quality of their work, and what they had in mind moving forward," Stewart said. " It’s just a loss. It’s a loss for that new work to happen under that official poet laureate title.”
The governor’s office did not respond to requests for comment.
