Houston Has A New Poet Laureate, And She's Wordy

HOUSTON, TX — April is National Poetry Month, the perfect time to announce a new poet laureate, which is exactly what Mayor Sylvester Turner did on Wednesday in a ceremony attended by city officials and residents.

Deborah Mouton, who is also known as D.E.E.P., was named the city's third poet laureate, and will serve in that role through April 2019. She takes over from Robin Davidson.

"It’s such an honor to be chosen to serve Houston as the Poet Laureate," Mouton said in a statement. "I can’t wait to work with local artists and citizens to shine light on the unique voices and cultural experiences that this great city has to offer."

Mouton has performed around the nation, and has received many honors. She was ranked the second best female poet in the world at the Women of World Poetry Slam, and released her first full-length album — "The Unfinished Work of a Genius" — in 2009. She is currently the special programs manager and a writer in residence for Writers in the Schools and a Slammaster/coach for the Houston VIP National Poetry Slam team.

"Houston has so many talented page and performance poets and a strong literary arts community, Turner said in the statement. "Deborah Mouton has the expertise and passion for poetry that will be invaluable in working with arts groups of all disciplines to take poetry to all of Houston’s neighborhoods."

Houston's poet laureate post was created in 2013 by the Mayor's Office of Cultural Affairs.

— Image: Writers in the Schools