Mayor Dominick Pangallo and Salem Public Library Director Tara Mansfield invite the community to the Poet Laureate Finalist Readings on Thursday, August 20th, starting at 6:00 PM at Charlotte Forten Park, located at 289 Derby Street, Salem MA 01970.
After a thorough review of 6 applications, the Poet Laureate Selection Committee has narrowed down the field to three exceptional local poets: M.P. Carver (She/Hers), Jo Faeyln Bova (They/Them), and D. Shine (They/Them).
“We are proud to present these talented poets, who each bring a unique voice and perspective,” Mayor Pangallo remarked, “I am grateful to the dedicated selection committee of city staff and volunteers who have put in so much thought and hard work to begin this program. I encourage all community members to attend this exciting poetry reading.”
Each finalist will read selections from their work for 15 minutes, followed by an open Q&A where members of the public are invited to ask our finalists questions. Free light refreshments and snacks will be provided. Funding is made possible thanks to the contribution from the Salem Redevelopment Authority.
M.P. Carver (She/Her) is a poet and visual artist from Salem, MA. She is Director of the Massachusetts Poetry Festival, miCrO-Founder of Molecule: a tiny lit mag, and teaches at Salem State University. She has received funding or fellowships from the Massachusetts Cultural Council, the Essex Community Foundation, the T.S. Eliot Foundation, and Disquiet International. In 2022 her poem “You & God & I” was awarded the New England Poetry Club’s E.E. Cummings Prize. Her chapter book, Selachipmorpha, was published by Incessant Pipe in 2015, and a recent chapbook from Lily Poetry Review Books, Hard Up, is available now. More at mpcarver.com
Jo Faelyn Bova (They/Them) is a queer nonbinary faerie, writer, artist, local cryptid, community organizer, activist, model, higher education professional, drag performer, overall siren, and lover of willow trees from Salem, Massachusetts. They earned a BA in Creative Writing from Salem State University (Summa Cum Laude) where they received the Creativity Award in Creative Writing and the Silver Key Award. They are the founder of Salem Literary Coven, a costumed poetry performance group, that has performed at the 2025 and 2026 Salem Arts Festivals seeking to mix whimsical energy with classic poetry readings. More than anything, jo wants to continue fostering a strong arts community in Salem through their work, believing that everyone is creative; you can find jo on Instagram @jofaelynbova or just spot them walking around a local art fair.
D. Shine (They/Them) is a poet and social worker who was born and raised in Massachusetts. They have been writing poetry since they were introduced to the medium as a kid at a Shakespeare summer camp. In 2024, they self-published “Nowhere Left Behind,” a collection of over 50 poems written in the prior decade. They host a recurring poetry night in Salem called “House of Poems” where local artists are invited to share their writing. They live in Salem with their wife and two cats, and in their free time enjoy bicycling, crossword puzzles, and watching movies.