Frank Sherlock Named Philly’s Second Poet Laureate

Mayor Michael Nutter announced today that poet Frank Sherlock will replace Sonia Sanchez as Philly’s new Poet Laureate.

Sherlock — a 2013 Pew Fellow in the Arts for Literature — was raised in Southwest Philadelphia. He’s a self-taught poet whose most popular published works include Neighbor Ballads, Over Here, The City Real & Imagined and Ready-to-Eat Individual. He will have a collection of works published in Chile later this year, translated by Carlos Soto-Román

A press release describes Sherlock’s responsibilities as Poet Laureate, including participating in the Inauguration of the Mayor and other spoken word and poetry events at City Hall. He is also expected to guest author events and poetry readings at the Free Library and help with the selection of Philly’s Youth Poet Laureate.

How does Sherlock feel about the appointment?: “How lucky am I to be a poet in my favorite city in the world? This city raised me, beat the hell out of me a few times, and still reveals the magic of Philadelphia Otherly Love.”