Dr. Jack B. Bedell, professor of English, has been selected as one of three candidates to become the next Louisiana Poet Laureate. Nominees for the job must have had their work published in books, magazines or scholarly journals, as well as receive positive reviews from the general public and the literary community.
The Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities is charged by state law with putting together a nominations committee made up of Louisiana poets, professors and humanities representatives. The committee must select laureate nominees who reflect the diverse cultures and heritage of Louisiana.
“My work has always centered on my south Louisiana heritage and my family,” said Bedell. “I feel a tremendous debt to the culture and people who have made me the person I am. I write poetry to honor those people and traditions. That’s what inspires me.”
Bedell is a native of Houma, La., and he reflects upon Acadian culture in many of his poems. Bedell has published seven collections of poetry including “French Connections: A Gathering of Franco-American Poetry” and “Bone-Hollow, True: New & Selected Poems.”
“As far as favorites in my own work, you’re asking the wrong person,” said Bedell. “When I read my own work I only see how unworthy it is in comparison to the subjects I’m trying to honor in the poems. All I know about it is that I gave it my best. The rest is up to the readers to decide.”
Bedell is honored and humbled to be a nominee for this prestigious title.
“As much as I am honored by this nomination, I understand what a great responsibility it is to be charged with bringing awareness to the craft of poetry throughout Louisiana,” said Bedell. “The poet laureate is tasked with promoting literacy and art appreciation throughout the state at all age levels. The state laureate is also asked to write commemorative poems for important state events. All of that sits pretty heavily on the appointed poet’s shoulders.”
He believes that his two fellow nominees are worthy contenders for the title.
“Both Ava Haymon and Laura Mullen are exceptional writers and tremendous people,” said Bedell. “The Governor certainly has a tough choice on his hands, as he did last term when he chose Julie Kane for the post. There’s no way to go wrong with nominees of this quality, though. I have full faith Ava and Laura would be fabulous choices. I’m very flattered to be mentioned in their company.”
Although this is Bedell’s second nomination for Louisiana Poet Laureate, he has not spent much time considering how his life will change if he is given this position.
“I can’t say I’ve planned that far in advance,” said Bedell. “Previous laureate Darrell Bourque set a high bar for the amount of outreach the position entails, and I’d certainly try to live up to his example by doing programs in schools throughout the state. The post would also involve a fairly heavy reading schedule monthly that would require a good bit of travel both in and out of the state. I’d run full-speed into those responsibilities, for sure.”
Regardless of the outcome, Bedell intends to remain an active professor.
“Serving Louisiana as poet laureate would help me as a person, citizen and artist,” said Bedell. “The challenges and responsibilities would definitely be hard work, but that kind of work can only make you a better, more productive human being. I’d say anything that makes me a better person would make me a better professor. As far as teaching at Southeastern, it is my life’s work, and nothing will change that.”
Governor Bobby Jindal should decide who will receive the honor by June since the term for current laureate Julie Kane, who earned a doctorate in English from LSU, will end on May 21, 2013. For more information on the Louisiana Poet Laureate, go to LEH.org.