Below is a transcript of our conversation with Nandi Comer, Poet Laureate of Michigan:
David Nicholas:
I’m David Nicholas and this is Central Focus, a weekly look at research activity and innovative work from Central Michigan University students and faculty. Until now, Michigan had had only one poet laureate. His name was Edgar Guest, and he died in 1959. The position was brought back in 2021, and Detroit born poet Nandy Comer has served the state since 2023. She Visited the CMU campus in November. I had the chance to get to know her when she sat down with me in studio. And I reassured her that I would not label or pigeonhole her work……