BREAKFAST CLUB OF GRAND RAPIDS
Established 1936 – John A. Collins, President
UNIVERSITY CLUB
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2020 – 7:30 a.m.
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One of the great prizes in the literary world, is being named (knighted) with the prestigious title of Poet Laureate. A poet laureate is a poet officially appointed by a government or conferring institution, typically expected to compose poems for special events and occasions. Albertino Mussato of Padua and Francesco Petrarca of Arezzo, both now part of Italy, were the first to be crowned poets laureate after the classical age, respectively in 1315 and 1342. In Britain, the term dates from the appointment of Bernard André by Henry VII of England. The royal office of Poet Laureate in England dates from the appointment of John Dryden in 1668. Grand Rapids, though not going back to the 14 th Century just before furniture was invented, decided that the “Rapids” would do well to show that we can produce something more ethereal than Nutrolite. The BC is pleased to introduce the newest Grand Rapids Poet Laureate, Ericka Thompson, sometimes known as “KYD KANE.” Ericka will hold the honor for three years. She has been requested to tell us about her position and maybe share a poem or two.
Invocator: Mr. Eric Nelson
Introducer: James Booth Burr, Jr., Esq.
Poetry
(1) “Poetry and consumption are the most flattering of diseases.” Jean Cocteau
(2) “All bad poetry springs from genuine feeling.” Oscar Wilde
(3) “Free verse is like free love; it is a contradiction in terms.” G. K. Chesterton
