You may not know it,
But it’s time for a new state laureate poet.
Governor Nixon wants you
to suggest one or two
who can write a great line
about all that is fine
and all that is great
about our show-me state.

If yo’d like to enter
whether you are left or right of center
check the governor’s website,
fill out the application just right
and send it in by the 24th of Feb.
Whether you’re a guy or a deb,
a committee of five
will decide if you’re the next greatest Missouri poet alive.

You’ll replace David Clewell
who has been a poetic jewel
but who has not made a gob
of money in two years on the job.

But think of this now
and consider just how
you could be next
to write Missouri’s next poetic text.