Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, March 5, 1992 TAG: 9203050241
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-1 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: KEVIN KITTREDGE
DATELINE: CHRISTIANSBURG LENGTH: Medium
Roberts - who was the state's first female poet laureate and only its fifth poet laureate ever - was confirmed Wednesday as poet laureate emeritus by the Virginia Senate.
The House of Delegates had approved the resolution in February - so with the Senate's approval it is official, said Paul Mitchem, a legislative aide to Del. Joan Munford, D-Blacksburg.
Munford co-sponsored the resolution, along with state Sen. Madison Marye, D-Shawsville.
When told of the action Wednesday, Roberts said her "head was in the clouds."
"I'm glad I'm lying down," she joked. Roberts said she had intended to rake leaves Wednesday afternoon at her big white house in Christiansburg - but now she was too excited.
"It was so nice of them to think about this. I'm very pleased and honored," she said seriously.
Marye said he has known Roberts since before he entered the General Assembly 18 years ago.
"I knew her by reputation way before that. . . . I know she is a published poet known across the commonwealth. I thought she was very deserving of this honor," said Marye.
Said Mitchem: "Mrs. Roberts was the first and only woman ever declared poet laureate of Virginia. Because she is still writing and very active and a member of the community, we thought this would be a nice thing to commend her."
Mitchem said the position is honorary, and does not include a salary.
Roberts - who has counted Lady Nancy Astor, Winthrop Rockefeller and Mark Twain's daughter, Clara Clemens Gabrilowitz, among her friends or correspondents and knew the poet Robert Frost - is the author of two volumes of poetry and a family genealogy.
She also has written an autobiography, "The Way It Was," and wrote the verse narration for "The Story of Buzzy Bee," a children's book illustrated by her niece, Jeanne Altizer Barley.
In addition Roberts was editor of a poetry magazine, The Lyric, described in one of her books as the oldest magazine of traditional poetry in America.
She is locally famous for "Buzzy Bee" - as evidenced by the child who once yelled "There goes Buzzy!" from a car window after spotting Roberts on one of her twice-daily walks.
Roberts, a widow - her husband Laurence died in 1966 - has not written poetry recently.
"Too busy," said Roberts, who works at a seniors' center and, when needed, on a board that reviews property taxes.
In any case, she has never been the type to sit down and fret over her poems, Roberts said. She wrote "Busy Bee" in half an hour. "They come to me or they don't."
Roberts hopes being poet laureate emeritus will help draw attention to her forthcoming book, "The Way It Is," which will discuss local history. Its publication will coincide with the town's celebration of its 200th anniversary this summer, Roberts said - and any publicity about the book should help the celebration.
"You know, Davy Crockett and Daniel Boone walked these streets. We are very historical," Roberts said.
The resolution naming her poet laureate emeritus cites Roberts' volumes of poetry and her work to increase the poetry collections of local authors in Virginia's libraries.
A formal ceremony to present Roberts with an official copy of the resolution is being arranged, Mitchem said.
Keywords:
PROFILE
by CNB