Western Kentucky University professor Joe Survant is the 2003-05 Kentucky Poet Laureate. Photo by Clinton Lewis

Around me the urgent voices

Joe Survant, a semi-retired English professor at Western Kentucky University, wrote in the voice of his character, Sallie, in the poem Golden Circumstance. But he now has his own unexpected reason to dance. The Owensboro native, who lives in rural Warren County and has taught at Western for 32 years, has been named Kentucky Poet Laureate for 2003 through 2005. He will receive the title from Gov. Paul Patton in April in Frankfort. In a way it kind of validates your writing, the 60-year-old Survant said. As a poet, I dont have a big name in the nation. Im not being invited to Oprahs Book Club. So this is a way of validating my work outside of myself or a small group, and plus, its an honor to represent your state in any position. Survant was nominated for the title by Kentucky State University professor of English Richard Taylor, who has also been poet laureate. The Kentucky Poet Laureate Committee, which is part of the Kentucky Arts Council and includes an editor, a language specialist, someone from state library and archives, writers and educators, chose Survant from a pool of candidates. The governor approved the selection. Pam Sexton, chairwoman of the poet laureate committee, said Survant was chosen because He is a published poet of wonderful work. (And) He has exhibited over a long period of years a dedication to the arts in Kentucky through his writing and teaching. Survant has been nominated for poet laureate before. He has also served on the poet laureate committee. It once cost him a shot at the poet laureate title, Sexton said. He chose to stay on the committee rather than to be considered a candidate, she said. Sexton specifically rotated Survant and others off the committee recently so they would have a chance at the spot. She said Survant, who will now become an ambassador for poetry and literature in Kentucky, has been especially deserving because he has been in the trenches for a long time, and its not easy to be a poet in todays world, and to convince young people of the importance of poetry, something many consider frivolous or for a certain group of people. Survant has had four collections of poetry published. Rafting Rise, which was published last year by the University Press of Florida, is a collection of narrative poems about logging. It is set in 1916 in the Green River basin, near where Survant grew up. Survant is considering turning it into a novel. His other books include We Will All be Changed, Anne and Alpheus, 1842-1882 and The Presence of Snow in the Tropics. As poet laureate, Survant may talk to school groups, literary clubs, university classes and just about anyone who asks him, if he has time, he said. But hes not making big plans for what he will say. Survant will replace current poet laureate Jim Baker Hall. He said the title couldnt come at a better time. Since he only teaches spring semesters at Western these days, he will have all summer and fall to travel as poet laureate and to write. He plans to next write a book of poems about the first white Europeans who came into this part of Kentucky in the 18th century. Im doing a little reading now and letting things percolate, Survant said.