One of the City's Premier Poets

Bradford Allison

New Bedford-born John Landry has long been referred to as “the unoffi cial Poet Laureate of New Bedford” within the local literary scene. For years he has been organizing poetry readings and serving as mentor to young poetic hopefuls. Historically the title of Poet Laureate has been awarded to someone who has dedicated their life to the writing and teaching of poetry. Landry certainly has the credentials and is considered a strong candidate as the next or future holder of that august recognition and responsibility. In the mid-70’s he began getting his own work published, while simultaneously running Patmos Press and publishing books by fellow local poets, such as New Bedford’s fi rst Poet Laureate Professor Everett Hoagland.

The totality of his resume is staggering. He cut his teeth in local factories, warehouses, and libraries. He attended the Jack Kerouac School of Disembodied Poetics, where he studied with Beat poets such as Allen Ginsberg and Joanne Kyger. Through this network of poets he befriended the Black Mountain poets like John Weiners and Robert Creeley. He has been a speaker at National Poetry Foundation conferencesn and New College of California in San Francisco, and taught at the University of Fulda Germany. He has given literally hundreds of poetry readings, including ones at the Library of Congress in Washington D.C. and City Lights Bookstore in San Francisco.

When asked about what this offi cial title would mean if he was so honored, John says, “I don’t expect to be writing occasional greeting card verse. In fact, I don’t look at any offi cial recognition as a change in anything I’ve been doing.” Indeed for years he has been organizing readings in the area that enabled local poets to showcase their own work in different venues as well as bringing poets from other parts of the country to read in New Bedford. These readings have not only helped to educate the citizens of New Bedford about the poetic world outside of the South Coast, but also make outsiders aware of the poets that are here. “Everett Hoagland and I have always been poetic beacons for this city,” he says. “Wherever we go, people learn that poetry exists in New Bedford.”

The ongoing reality of expanded local poetry readings is something that Landry intends to develop further. He has been working with Gallery X in downtown New Bedford to organize regular readings. “I want to continue to bring voices to the city. Often people don’t realize how rich New England is with poets.” “ I will continue to serve as a strong advocate and ambassador for New Bedford’s literary worlds growth. In fact, literary ambassador is probably a perfect defi nition for John Landry. From 1998-2004 he was a visiting lecturer at UMASS Dartmouth, serving also at BCC. While doing so, it became common practice for Landry to take aspiring young poets under his wing. If he thought a student might be inspired by a certain poet’s work, he would give them a copy of that poet’s books. If he felt that a student was relying too heavily on some sort of literary crutch, he would offer them a challenge to help them better their work. But most importantly, John Landry makes himself available. He is always willing to read students’ work, comment on it or just talk literary history and poetics. It is this sort of openness and willingness to allow poetry to bloom that makes him a perfect candidate for New Bedford Poet Laureate of the future.

John Landry’s most recent published work can be read online at the New College Review (newcollege.edu/ review), a school begun in the 70’s by the Beat and Black Mountain poets, which is still a center for poetry students today. He hosts the Whaling City Review LIVE series at Gallery X the 3rd Saturday of each month; and April 21 will feature winners of both the Barnes & Noble New Bedford area High School Poetry Contest and the UMass Literary Association competition. He will be a featured reader April 22 at the Poets for Darfur fundraiser. He is now preparing two full-length books of his own poetry.