by Laura Lane
She expressed her creativity through short stories, but then she started to pen poetry. That's when her life began to change.
"I got into poetry to improve my prose because it's a much more disciplined format," Kotch recalled. "Poetry helps clarify and focus your thinking. I found that if you let it fly, it's good for transcribing emotions, recording family events or a momentary peeve."
Soon Kotch began to get good -- so good that she took third place in her first poetry contest, the Princess of the Lake. Hooked on her new-found form of expression, she attended poetry events, seminars and workshops. She enjoyed hearing poetry read by invited guests, including the Queens and Suffolk county poet laureates.
Kotch noticed that a crowd gathered whenever the poet laureates were present, and although she learned a great deal from hearing their work, she felt a sense of resentment. She wondered why Nassau didn't have its own poet laureate.
"I got sick and tired of noticing that at the events in Nassau County, someone had to be borrowed from Queens or Suffolk County to have poetic representation," said Kotch. "A few of my poet friends, Edgar Carlson, Paula Camacho and Judy Turek, had been discussing the same thing. When they invited me to join the effort to get a Nassau County poet laureate, I jumped at the opportunity."
The Committee for a Nassau County Poet Laureate was formed in the fall of 2005. Its five poets, including Kotch, began their work by researching how to approach the county Legislature. "A poet laureate is an honorary position established by the government, originally a king, to represent the government through the arts," said Camacho.
The committee met with Legislator David Mejias, a Democrat of North Massapequa, to discuss legislation to create the poet laureate's position. Mejias was enthusiastic about the idea, and worked closely with the committee for nine months. "I thought perhaps I'd never see a law that speaks of poetry, a law that gives the special task of reciting poems to all who ask," said Mejias. "Poetry brings a sense of peace into the very hectic lives of Nassau County residents. It's a celebration of language, culture and life."
Mejias¹s only break from his work with the committee came when he ran for re-election last November. He proposed a poet laureate bill in January. Nine Nassau poets, including Kotch, read their poems before the Legislature that day.
The Legislature voted unanimously to create the poet laureate's position, which is to be filled in April 2007, to coincide with National Poetry Month. Members of the Nassau County Poet Laureate Panel will choose the honoree. The panel will comprise:
€A Nassau County educator who teaches poetry, selected by the Nassau County Council of School Superintendents.
€An active member of the poetry community, named by the county executive.
€An active member of the poetry community, named by the county Legislature's presiding officer.
€ The vice president of academic affairs at Nassau County Community College, or his or her designee.
€ A member of the Nassau County Library Association, designated by the association.
Kotch is ecstatic. She believes that poetry will become more accessible to a wider audience with the creation of a Nassau County poet laureate, and she looks forward to learning from and being inspired by the new poetry leader, who will more than likely attend many poetry events around the county.
"Anybody can write poetry if you have an appreciation of language," said Kotch. "Teaching it in a rigid form turns people off. When you think about it, writing poetry isn't that different from writing lyrics. There isn't much difference between the beat poets and rap music."
Comments about this story? LLane@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 236.
