Mayor Nutter Appoints City's New Poet Laureate
By Mike Dunn
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- There once was a mayor named Nutter, and today, rather than rely on bad limericks, he named a new Poet Laureate of Philadelphia.
The ability to rhyme is not a prerequisite.
On Friday, Mayor Nutter appointed 44-year-old Frank Sherlock as the city's second Poet Laureate, succeeding Sonia Sanchez in a two-year term.
"I am very excited for him to pick up the pen -- literally -- where Sonia Sanchez left it," Nutter said.
Sherlock was raised in Southwest Philadelphia and last year he was named a Pew Fellow in the Arts for Literature:
"It's through my work with language that brings me here today, but I can't find words to express the gratitude to the city that raised me, beat me up a few times, and still reveals Philadelphia Botherly Love."
Officials say as poet laureate, Sherlock will take part in public readings and spend time working with younger poets.
