The chances depend on madness, the gray beauty

      of Gide whose doubts might yet open

       a way out through the sweet ruins

       we now find before us.

-Marc Harshman, Consequently

What is a Poet Laureate?

As defined by the Oxford dictionary, a poet laureate is “a poet appointed to, or regarded unofficially as holding, an honorary representative position in a particular country, region, or group.” Marc Harshman is West Virginia’s 7th poet laureate and was appointed by Governor Tomblin in 2012. He was chosen to represent West Virginia with his amazing writing skills that represent both the beauty and the pain that can be found in our state.

About Marc Harshman

Marc Harshman was born and raised in Randolph County, Indiana, but moved to  Wheeling, West Virginia in 2001. Since then he has fully embraced every aspect of West Virginia, from the beautiful mountains and abundant wildlife to the poverty and suffering of the people. He writes about all of this in his poems and strikes deep into the hearts of mountaineers and many others. 

Harshman’s Work

Marc Harshman has published 22 books along with a large collection of various poems. His books are mostly children’s books and consist of fun rhymes and tales of rural life. Check out the titles here.