Franklin alum Mitcham named Georgia's Poet Laureate

UGA alumnus Judson C. Mitcham (AB '69, MS '71) was named by Governor Nathan Deal as the new poet laureate of Georgia. Mitcham succeeds David Bottoms in the post.

A former adjunct professor of creative writing at UGA, Mitcham was very active on campus as a Man of Letters during his time in Athens and has many connections to Franklin College. A recipient of numerous awards and honors, Mitcham currently teaches creative writing at Mercer University and in the MFA program at Georgia College and State University. Poets laureate compose poems for state occasions and other government events, but the extent of their duties can vary widely. They are generally understand to be advocates and ambassadors for poetry to the state and its citizens, a role that has perhaps never been as important as it is today. So, congratulations to Mitcham on this important honor that is a bit more than that. Plus this advice, to all of us, from the German poet Rainer Maria Rilke (d.1926):

If your daily life seems poor, do not blame it; blame yourself, tell yourself that you are not a poet enough to call forth its riches; for to the Creator there is no poverty and no poor indifferent place.