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ITHACA, NY (CortacaToday) — What is a poet laureate? A poet laureate is a poet officially appointed by a government institution. For centuries it has been tradition in European countries like England, Italy, and Greece to have a national poet laureate. In the United States the tradition began in the late 30s’—the role then was called “Consultant in Poetry to the Library of Congress.” Today, many U.S. states and counties appoint their own poet laureate.
The selection of Tompkins County Poet Laureate is administered by nonprofit organization, the Community Arts Partnership (CAP). CAP seeks nominations and organizes a selection panel for appointment to the position. Once one is nominated they then have to fill an application for the selection panel to review. Appointments are for two-year terms. “I never thought I’d be selected,” Janie Bibbie said. She’d read poems to friends and community members which led to their recognition of her talent and encouragement to apply for the position. Several people, including her pastor, nominated Janie Bibbie as the Tompkins County Poet Laureate for the two-year term, the 2023 year and the 2024 year.
Ithaca has long been home to Bibbie, over 50 years. “I landed here and stayed,” she said. Bibbie’s been a part of the Ithaca community since the early 70s’. She began writing poetry later in life, having completed undergrad and graduate school at Ithaca College, where she studied corporate communications. Bibbie worked in human resources most of her life; for 20 years she was the HR director for Kendal at Ithaca.
Writing poetry and prose wasn’t an art form Bibbie intentionally picked up, rather she found it during a particularly challenging period and used it as an outlet. Bibbie began writing in a journal in 2019, during her husband William Bibbie’s struggle with Alzheimer’s disease, which sadly led to his passing in 2021. Entries from this journal made up her first published book, Alzheimers Up Close and Personal: A Journal of Experiences, Concerns and Thoughts, which consisted of reflections on her journey with her husband through the progression of his disease.
The book was published prior to his passing and was shortly followed by another titled Inspired: Musings, Ponderings and Such in 2019. Then things began to really take off, “poems just started flowing. So far I’ve written 15 books, most of them are poetry. I know they’re inspired by God …. I don’t sit around and pick up poems. They’re just given to me,” Bibbie said.
Her fifteen published titles all incorporate the work of her husband: “He was a photographer. We had always planned to do something together. And then life happened; we never got around to it. So, I thought, gee I better do something, so now my books always include some of his photographs.” All fifteen of her books are self-published and she designs and edits them herself.
Bibbie describes the role of the poet laureate as someone who, “represents poetry among the people. My goal is to read, write and share poetry … I’m helping people either to write or to confess that they’ve written … I’m trying to encourage them to share it, because there’s a joy in sharing.”
She’s read for Tompkins County legislatures three times since she came into the role. The poems she read at the meetings are as follows: on Feb. 7, 2023 Bibbie read “Flow” from Flow: Poems for Peace to Your Mind; on June 6, 2023 she read “Just in Time” from Remnants: Poems for Pauses; and for National Poetry Month on April 2, 2024 she read two poems, “Next” from Keep Moving: Poems for What’s Next, and “The Future” from Whenever and Wherever: Poems for the Lost and Found. The experience of presenting for the legislatures, “was amazing,” Bibbie said, “there were not only people in the room, but it was being recorded, the legislature meetings are always on screen [live stream] … and I had to give a speech.”
A reading from her book Thunderstorm: Poems for Quite Times:
Bibbie describes the role of poetry in a community: “It takes people’s minds off some of the awful things happening in the world, although some poetry is written to highlight some of the awful things happening … But it’s an opportunity to condense feelings … In just a few words you can say a whole lot.” It makes sense then that her favorite activity to do in Ithaca is read and write at Stewart Park, as this and other beautiful spaces in the community are conducive for creating and reflecting.
The topics she touches in her writing are not limited: “I think all aspects of life influence my writing, even things like going into a grocery store and seeing the people … or going to a park … just listening, all of that seems to come out somehow in my writing.”
As Poet Laureate she reads and presents in the community often and as requested. She’s read for several crowds at public events, community organizations, and schools throughout the years, before her term as poet laureate began and during. The Afterschool Program Open Mic at Southside Community Center, for Black History Month at Cinemapolis, Belle Sherman Elementary, GIAC Talent Show at the State Theater, Honoring Peter Wheeler event at Ludlowville Park, Cornell’s Johnson Musuem’s 50th Anniversary (she wrote a special poem for this event), McGraw House, First Presbyterian Church of Ithaca, The Ithaca Rotary Club, Odyssey Bookstore, and Buffalo Street Books are among the places she has read for. She has also led several poetry workshops. You can hear a recording of one of her readings from the Tompkins County Public Library’s Spring Writes Poetry and Prose Open Mic here.
Prior to her role as Tompkins County Poet Laureate, Bibbie was long involved in actively shaping the Ithaca community.
• She’s a member of the Business Leaders of Colors, a Greater Ithaca Activities Center senior program member and a Tompkins County Quilters Guild member.
• Her membership with Quilter’s Guild, a legacy member of the City Federation of Women’s Organizations, led to her service on CFWO’s board and its grants committee. CFWO was put together during the suffragist movement, originally consisted of 55 organizations. CFWO owned and then sold the women’s community building in Ithaca and now uses the money from the sale to give out community grants. Bibbie said, “It’s exciting I’ve never worked on a board that does nothing but give money away.”
• She’s a former member of local music organization Dorothy Cotton Jubilee Singers, Ithaca Neighborhood Housing Board and Loan Committee, and is a part of the McGraw House Board.
• Years ago, she was on the board for the Displaced Homemakers organization which today is the Women’s Opportunity Center. As you may be able to tell by now, Bibbie’s community involvement has been far reaching and began long before her explorations with poetry.
For more stories on amazing Ithaca residents check out these articles: Dan Smalls: One of Ithaca’s finest you should know and Local Business Spotlight: Q&A with the talent behind custom pastry orders that are floral and fun.