The Poet Laureate Circle
Local Poets and Poets Laureate come together for literary events, including the annual Seefeldt Awards, representing The Poet Laureate Circle.
Cathy Hailey and Alice Mergler organize open mic sessions, workshops, roundtable discussions, and relationship building for poets across Prince William County and the local Mid-Atlantic region to participate and engage the public. Learn the history behind The Poet Laureate Circle and check out upcoming events.
The 2026 Poet Laureate Search Begins!
Submit your nomination for the 2026-2028 Prince William County Poet Laureate.
The application will be posted soon, but submit your nomination forms right away.
Complete & Submit Your Nomination Form
The application deadline is June 30, 2026.
Now Available
When You Hand a Poet a Microphone is a vibrant anthology by Spilled Ink and Poet Laureate Circle community. This is the second such volume after their first collection in 2023, Sharing the Light.
This collection of over 30 poems captures the extraordinary within the ordinary: the quiet beauty of nature, the bonds of friendship, the rhythm of daily life, and the profound meaning found in seemingly mundane moments. From With God, to Recycling, these authors' works celebrate both the intimate and the infinite.
Each poem is an offering—an observation, a question, a reflection—written by complex, thoughtful minds who pause to notice the minute details of the world around us. Together, these poets share their findings, their wonder, and their voices with you.
Whether you are drawn to contemporary poetry, local and regional voices, or simply the joy of discovering new perspectives, When You Give a Poet a Microphone invites you to listen closely and find yourself in its pages.