Vox Populi Speaks: Poet Populist Chosen, Says Haiku Report

Councilmember Nick Licata liked poetry. Arts and culture man.

Already he'd launched Words Worth: in which select scribes read before meetings.

Imagine: The blend of the scruffy, the stuffy . . . Juxtaposition!

How please the masses? The proverbial light bulb went on in Nick's head.

With nod and tipped hat to the Beat Generation he laid out a plan.

(Poet Laureate? Seattle already had one Mona Lake Jones.)

But what if folks chose for themselves? He would call it "Poet Populist."

The notion: To give the arts back to the people. (Maybe win support!)

By chance there approached an arts celebration at Benaroya Hall.

Through popular vote would a soldier be chosen. (Yo, poets: Bring friends!)

Six hundred people broke through chains bureaucratic by clapping their hands.

The profile: A man. Philadelphia born, and a school volunteer.

Wednesday brought him a plaque, this Bernard Harris, Jr.: Poet Populist!

Neighborhood hero. A long way removed from those who butcher haiku.

Marc Ramirez is no poet, and now you know it. His phone message number is 206-464-8102. His e-mail address is:

mramirez@seattletimes.com