Governor Bob Ferguson hosts first-ever poetry gathering at the Governor's Residence
May 21, 2026 | Governor's Office - Boards & Commissions, Executive, Washington
This article was created by AI summarizing key points discussed. AI makes mistakes, so for full details and context, please refer to the video of the full meeting. Please report any errors so we can fix them. Report an error »
Governor Bob Ferguson opened an evening poetry gathering at the Governor's Residence, thanking volunteers and staff and inviting guests to tour the public rooms after the readings. “We're not sure that's ever been done before, so maybe it'll be the first annual event,” he said, and asked attendees to stay for photographs and to enjoy the residence.
The program was emceed by Washington State Poet Laureate Derek Sheffield, whom Ferguson introduced as an old friend and college roommate. Sheffield read and introduced guest readers and youth winners, and described the event as the product of partnerships with the Washington State Arts Commission and Humanities Washington. Sheffield encouraged young poets to submit to a new words/woods/wellness project on terrain.org, noting a $100 honorarium for selected poets ages 21 and younger.
Former Seattle civic poet Claudia Castro Luna read poems in English and Spanish about place, language and the natural world, closing with three short pieces about trees. Sheffield and the governor highlighted youth participants: Jade Terrace Talamo described a nonprofit she founded, Kids Art for Climate Justice, that raises money to plant trees using children’s art and poetry; Eric Luna read the Poetry Forward prizewinner, speaking of identity and belonging.
One notable reading came from Sahar Fathy, who prefaced and recited a poem titled “Maktoub.” Fathy’s poem included an epigraph that said, “On 02/28/2026, the Shajore Taibe Girls Elementary School in Minna, Iran was destroyed by a missile strike,” and cited witness accounts and a UNICEF casualty estimate. In the poem she says, “This is a war crime,” and describes grief and fear. Those factual claims — the date, the school’s name, and the casualty figure attributed to UNICEF — are presented in her poem and reported here as her words and sources cited within the reading; the gathering did not present independent verification.
Ferguson closed the program with thanks to the poets, organizers and volunteers, reminded attendees that flowers were available for poets, and invited poets and families to join for photos in front of the stairs. “We have to make this the first annual,” he told the audience as the program portion concluded.
The event combined formal readings and community presentations and emphasized youth engagement, the natural world as a recurring theme and the role of poetry in public life. Organizers urged attendees to consider the residence’s public rooms and local poetry programs as ongoing resources.
The program was emceed by Washington State Poet Laureate Derek Sheffield, whom Ferguson introduced as an old friend and college roommate. Sheffield read and introduced guest readers and youth winners, and described the event as the product of partnerships with the Washington State Arts Commission and Humanities Washington. Sheffield encouraged young poets to submit to a new words/woods/wellness project on terrain.org, noting a $100 honorarium for selected poets ages 21 and younger.
Former Seattle civic poet Claudia Castro Luna read poems in English and Spanish about place, language and the natural world, closing with three short pieces about trees. Sheffield and the governor highlighted youth participants: Jade Terrace Talamo described a nonprofit she founded, Kids Art for Climate Justice, that raises money to plant trees using children’s art and poetry; Eric Luna read the Poetry Forward prizewinner, speaking of identity and belonging.
One notable reading came from Sahar Fathy, who prefaced and recited a poem titled “Maktoub.” Fathy’s poem included an epigraph that said, “On 02/28/2026, the Shajore Taibe Girls Elementary School in Minna, Iran was destroyed by a missile strike,” and cited witness accounts and a UNICEF casualty estimate. In the poem she says, “This is a war crime,” and describes grief and fear. Those factual claims — the date, the school’s name, and the casualty figure attributed to UNICEF — are presented in her poem and reported here as her words and sources cited within the reading; the gathering did not present independent verification.
Ferguson closed the program with thanks to the poets, organizers and volunteers, reminded attendees that flowers were available for poets, and invited poets and families to join for photos in front of the stairs. “We have to make this the first annual,” he told the audience as the program portion concluded.
The event combined formal readings and community presentations and emphasized youth engagement, the natural world as a recurring theme and the role of poetry in public life. Organizers urged attendees to consider the residence’s public rooms and local poetry programs as ongoing resources.
View the Full Meeting & All Its Details
This article offers just a summary. Unlock complete video, transcripts, and insights as a Founder Member.
✓
Watch full, unedited meeting videos
✓
Search every word spoken in unlimited transcripts
✓
AI summaries & real-time alerts (all government levels)
✓
Permanent access to expanding government content
30-day money-back guarantee
