Port Townsend student named Seattle Youth Poet Laureate

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Port Townsend High School senior Zinnia Hansen was recently named Seattle Arts and Lectures’ 2021/2022 Youth Poet Laureate.

The Seattle Youth Poet Laureate program identifies young writers and leaders who are committed to poetry, engagement, education, and equity across the region.

Every year one applicant is awarded the prestigious title of Youth Poet Laureate, alongside a group of cohort finalists who work together throughout the year.

“I’m really excited,” Hansen said about the achievement.

“I’ve been working on my writing a lot for the past year. It’s been kind of my quarantine hobby.”

Hansen has been a writer for a long time, she said, but she really dove into poetry over the last year.

She said to have that recognition feels good, “especially since it’s coming at the culmination of my high school experience.”

“It lasts,” she said. “It’s going to be a lot of extended excitement over the next year.”

As Youth Poet Laureate, Hansen will give readings around the Seattle area. She will also be working with two local writers to publish a book of her poetry.

Next year, her poetry is to be submitted into the National Youth Poet Laureate competition for a shot at that title, as well.

In the meantime, Hansen is off to the University of Washington after graduation. She will be studying in the Interdisciplinary Honors Program to either major in comparative religion or linguistics.