The title of poet laureate was not one Bren Simmers thought was in the cards for her. 

So the moment the phone rang with the offer, she was quick to accept.

“When I got the call, I was like, what? How is this possible that this dream I had when I was younger is coming true?” Simmers told CBC News.

“It’s an honour, right? Because it’s people in your community that are recognizing the work that you’re doing. It was a real thrill to be asked.”

The award-winning poet and author of five books was appointed by Robin Croucher, the minister of education and early years, and recognized in a recent ceremony.

Simmers has received numerous local, regional and national awards for her work, including CBC’s 2022 Poetry Prize for her collection of poems Spell World Backwards.

She is the ninth writer to hold the position and follows Tanya Davis, who wrapped up her tenure last month. 

Simmers is excited that the poet laureate role itself isn’t very clearly defined. That means she gets to take control of what she wants to accomplish.

She decided her goal is to “elevate Island poets and Island poetry.”

That can mean connecting audiences of people with a passion for reading poetry to Island poets, or connecting the writers to poetry communities in the larger Atlantic region. 

“We have amazing poets on this Island that are writing about the beauty of the landscape, and getting into words what it’s like to live on Prince Edward Island, on Epekwitk” she said.

“I think that’s really important to see ourselves reflected, and to see all the different experiences of this Island reflected through poetry.” 

Outreach and community don’t stop at people already in those circles. One of the highest compliments, for Simmers, is to be told by someone who doesn’t “usually like poetry” that a work spoke to them in some way. 

Part of elevating Island poetry is to spread the power behind the art to as many people as possible, and if you ask Simmers, the Island’s scene has something for everyone. 

“We have Chris Bailey writing about lobster fishing, and Sadie McCarney writing about mental health,” Simmers said.

“Poetry is so important in the role that it plays in our culture. Not only do we turn to it for funerals and weddings, we also turn to it when we have great feelings and we’re trying to express ourselves.” 

The gameplan

But how does Simmers plan to do that, exactly?

She said part of the gameplan is to organize a series of workshops and poetry events — and hopefully even a poetry festival.

She has also been consulting other artists and creative people to find ways to better integrate poetry across various arts media.

“Right now, when there’s so much going on in the world, we need those moments to breathe, to come back into our body, come back into this moment,” she said.

“Poetry allows us to do that.”

While much of Simmers’s plan is still in the early stages, Islanders will soon catch her running a poetry revision workshop with the PEI Writers’ Guild. 

In the meantime, she continues to take what she calls an “integrated approach,” making poetry part of her everyday routine wherever possible. 

“I’ve been spending a bit of time thinking about the three years ahead and, sort of, really thinking about what is my intention and kind of building a plan,” she said. 

“I have a plan, and now it’s time to put it into action.”