Poetry, says Hallie Waugh, isn’t only for the highly educated or those who can decode dense literary metaphors. It’s for everyone. And as the newly appointed Poet Laureate for the Metropolitan Library System of Oklahoma County, Waugh is ready to make that point known.
“There’s a poet out there who you would get and you would love,” Waugh told Free Press. “You just haven’t found the right one yet.”
Waugh’s vision for her yearlong tenure is bold but rooted in something deeply human—connection through language. “If even a handful of people—or just one—felt like, ‘I didn’t think I liked poetry, and now I do,’ I would consider that a huge success,” she said.
Judie Matthews, the Special Collections librarian who developed and led the effort to establish the position, recognized the potential for impact early on. “People are curious about how to feel,” Matthews said. “Poetry is an accessible way to start playing with artistic and creative expression.”
From the start, both Waugh and Matthews knew this project would be about more than a title—it would be about building bridges between poets and readers, and between the library and the vibrant local writing community.
A Poet rooted in community
Waugh, who grew up in Franklin, Tennessee, moved to Oklahoma for college and ended up staying. Now a mother of two, she says her poetry has evolved significantly from the early angst-filled verses she wrote in her teenage years.
“Back then, I saw poetry primarily as expression—just needing to get something out,” Waugh said. “But over time, especially through my MFA studies, I began to understand the craft—how to shape that emotion into something that could also mean something to others.”
That transition—from expression to craft—was guided by mentors like Robert Cording, who challenged her to move beyond abstract truths and into specific, tangible imagery. “The universal only comes through in the specific,” she said. “I had to learn to ground big ideas in real moments.”
She describes her work now as narrative-driven and approachable. Much of her recent poetry focuses on the small, rich moments of parenthood and family life in Oklahoma, which she says often reveal broader truths about the human condition.
“I write a lot of sonnets and formal verse, but I also play with persona poems, writing in the voice of mythological or imagined characters,” she said. “That gives me the freedom to explore different emotions—even rage or bitterness—in ways I might not in my own voice.”
Her Oklahoma ties also run deep through her husband’s family roots in Tipton, a tiny town in the southwest part of the state. “When we go back, it’s all Waughs,” she said with a laugh. “His family is a big part of that community. It’s a different pace, a different way of life—and that contrast really shapes how I write.”
Launching a new tradition
The idea to appoint a poet laureate wasn’t born in isolation. Matthews had been inspired by a similar program in Norman, Oklahoma, where the library helped select a community poet laureate. After hearing about it at a library conference in March, she returned determined to adapt the idea for Oklahoma County.
She found a receptive environment.
“I have great creative leeway in my role,” the librarian, Matthews, said. “I get to explore ways to bring our special collections to life, and this just fit perfectly.”
A call for applications went out in the spring. The response was strong—around 35 poets applied, and 20 submitted complete and professional portfolios. A team of internal library staff and an external panel of creative writing faculty and poets across Central Oklahoma reviewed the applications.
To ensure fairness, Matthews designed the process to be as unbiased as possible. The external committee received anonymized submissions, ensuring that no identifying details would influence their evaluations.
Waugh was the clear favorite. “If she wasn’t someone’s first choice, she was a close second,” Matthews said. “She’s a serious working artist with a genuine desire to engage with the public.”
A collaborative vision
Both Waugh and Matthews emphasized that the goal of the laureate program is to elevate existing poetry communities and connect more people to them—not to reinvent or overshadow what’s already there.
“There’s already a rich poetry community here,” Waugh said. “Red Dirt Poetry, open mics, readings at Full Circle Books, workshops at 1515 North Lincoln—there’s so much happening.”
With the support of the library’s expansive reach, she hopes to bring more people into those spaces. She envisions programs that teach poetic forms, invite people to share their own work, or simply help them find poems that speak to them.
“There’s something powerful about hearing a poet read their work out loud,” Waugh said. “It opens a door for people.”
Matthews sees the program as a natural extension of the library’s mission. “We’re a literacy organization,” she said. “Helping people find new ways to understand themselves and the world—that’s at the heart of what we do.”
Looking ahead
Waugh will serve a one-year term, through September 2026. During that time, she’ll give readings, lead workshops, and work with Matthews and other library staff to develop events and resources for readers and writers of all ages.
Already, the poet laureate initiative has energized the library system internally, sparking new conversations and possibilities. Matthews said she’s hopeful it will grow into an ongoing program.
“I feel really lucky,” she said. “This was my idea, but so many people jumped in and made it happen. It’s collaborative and affirming—and it’s only the beginning.”
Waugh echoed that sentiment. “I’m just thrilled to be part of something that helps people see poetry differently,” she said. “Poetry is for everyone. I truly believe that.”
Brett is the founder, and editor in chief of Oklahoma City Free Press. He continues to contribute reporting and photography to the efforts of the publication as well as leadership in developing support.
