Montana

State Poet Laureate

In 2015, Montana established a state poet laureate position, which is currently held by Chris La Tray, author of several collections of poetry including Becoming Little Shell (Milkweed Editions, 2024).

Type	Title	State
Small Press	Riverbend Publishing	Montana
Writing Program	The 406 Writers' Workshop	Montana
Conference	Montana Cowboy Poetry Gathering	Montana
Writing Program	University of Montana	Montana
Festival	Montana Book Festival	Montana
Poetry-Friendly Bookstore	Barjon’s Books	Montana
Reading Series	University of Montana Reading Series	Montana
Poetry-Friendly Bookstore	Books & Books	Montana
Literary Organization	Indian Reading Series	Montana
Poetry-Friendly Bookstore	Chapter One Book Store	Montana

Once in the 40’s

We were alone one night on a long
road in Montana. This was in winter, a big
night, far to the stars. We had hitched,
my wife and I, and left our ride at
a crossing to go on. Tired and cold—but
brave—we trudged along. This, we said,
was our life, watched over, allowed to go
where we wanted. We said we’d come back some time
when we got rich. We’d leave the others and find
a night like this, whatever we had to give,
and no matter how far, to be so happy again.

William Stafford

1982

Another Attempt at Rescue

And to think I had just paid a cousin twenty dollars to shovel the walk.
He and two of his buddies, still smelling of an all-nighter,
arrived at 7 am to begin their work.
When I left them a while later I noticed their ungloved hands
and winter made me feel selfish and unsure.
This ground seems unsure of itself
		    for its own reasons.
Real spring is still distant
and no one is trying to make themselves believe
this might last, this last unreasonable half hour.
It is six-thirty in eastern Montana and the cold
	has finally given way.
The time is important not because this has been a lon

M. L. Smoker

2005

Reading Novalis in Montana

The dirt road is frozen.

Melissa Kwasny

2009

Poetry Near You

Montana

Recent & Featured Listings

Lois Red Elk

Karen Volkman

M. L. Smoker

Once in the 40’s

Another Attempt at Rescue

Reading Novalis in Montana

Poetry Near You

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Montana

Recent & Featured Listings

Lois Red Elk

Karen Volkman

M. L. Smoker

Related Poems

Once in the 40’s

Another Attempt at Rescue

Reading Novalis in Montana

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