Mayor Michael Nutter has named self-taught poet Frank Sherlock as Philadelphia's second-ever poet laureate, calling him one of the city's "most talented homegrown artists."
Sherlock is a 2013 Pew Fellow in the Arts for Literature. His works include "Neighbor Ballads" and "Over Here," and collaborations with CAConrad ("The City Real & Imagined") and Brent Evans ("Ready-to-eat Individual"). Por Aqui, a Spanish-language collection, will be published in Chile later this year.
Sherlock called himself lucky to receive the honor.
"How lucky am I to be a poet in my favorite city in the world," Sherlock said in a statement. "This city raised me, beat the hell out of me a few times, and still reveals the magic of Philadelphia Otherly Love."
The poet laureate takes part in public poetry and spoken word events and mentors young people.
Nutter named Sonia Sanchez the city's first-ever poet laureate two years ago.
