NPM 50 State Tour: Two for the Price of One

Some states have a poet laureate. Others don't -- see my poetic wall of shame (boo!)

But Indiana must be the only state with two poets laureate. One official -- Norbert Krapf. One unofficial -- Peggy Martin -- whose title is "Premier Poet." Confused? So was I.

Read this explanation and you'll still be confused. To distill -- Indiana's state poet laureate is appointed by the Indiana Arts Commission, the Premier Poet is elected by the Indiana State Federation of Poetry Clubs.

The Hoosier State is definitely an over-achiever when it comes to poetry. The Hoosier nickname comes from John Finley's poem, "The Hoosier's Nest." That's your "learn something new" for today (and here's the source.)

Here is Krapf's poem, "Chamomile," which reminded me of Pablo Neruda's simple odes.

Chamomile
by Norbert Krapf

Along the border
of an Indiana garden
beside a cold frame

my great-grandparents
cultivated you for
the herb-blossom tea
they believed cured
most of their ills.

Oh calmer of nerves
and delirium tremens,
soother of headaches
and preventer of nightmares,
repeller of insects
and softener of hair

Read the rest of the poem or listen to an audio reading here.

Enjoy a cup of chamomile tea. We're heading to Mississippi -- 20th state on our National Poetry Month tour of poets laureate.