Teaneck names former Air Force sergeant as its first poet laureate. Here's what he'll do

TEANECK — U.S. Air Force sergeant, New York City Transit senior director, and poet laureate?

Scott Pleasants, a 26-year resident, concedes that his path to being named Teaneck's first poet laureate on June 27 has taken some non-traditional turns.

"Poetry is a good way to express the good and bad going through life," Pleasants said.

Growing up in the Bronx, he said, he was first inspired by reading Robert Louis Stevenson's "My Shadow" at a grade school assembly. Pleasants does not remember participating in any organized poetry effort at Evander Childs High School in the Bronx. After graduation, he enlisted in the military, where his writing appeared in the base newspaper.

Pleasants' first published poem, about boxer Mike Tyson, appeared in New York City's Amsterdam News in 1991. Since then his work has appeared in a number of literary magazines and anthologies and his 2021 "Every Day Can be a Sunny Day: The Weather Inside."

During his 19 years with New York City Transit, Pleasants read at a variety of venues, including the renowned Nuyorican Poets Cafe in Greenwich Village, the New York Poetry Festival, Shop the Village, Bloomfield College, Edgar Allen Poe Park in the Bronx, Word Up Cafe in Brooklyn, Cliffside Park Art Association, Smush Gallery in Jersey City, and Busboys and Poets in Washington, D.C.

Pleasants said the art form got a boost during COVID as authors "migrated to various online platforms."

"Poets from all over the world were able to come together and share expressions that were once relegated to local in-person cafes," he said. "I've read my poetry at online venues across the country and in Tokyo, Japan."

Pleasants is particularly proud of two recent events that included his poetry. His work was featured in the Puffin Cultural Forum's opening reception for "The Art of Faith Ringgold" and in a Harvard University "In the Shadow of Giants" exhibit for photographer Chuck Stewart.

Since concluding his time with New York City Transit, Pleasants said, he has begun sharing more of his poetry. His long-term friendship with Teaneck Mayor Michael Pagan became a source of inspiration.

"Scott and I have talked about poetry a lot over the years, because I am a poet myself, having authored several books of poetry since 2001," Pagan said. "So when Scott approached me with the idea of establishing a poet laureate position for the township, I agreed with him wholeheartedly and told him I would run it by the council to help make it happen."

What does a poet laureate do?

But just what are the duties of a poet laureate?

North Jersey municipalities appear to "wing it" when it comes to poet designations. Paterson tapped Talena Lachelle Queen as its first poet laureate in 2018, and she has spearheaded the creation of the Paterson Poetry Festival.

PATERSON ARTS FEST Paterson arts festival provides chance for all to create

More recently, Paterson Poet Laureate Elizabeth Estella made it her mission to restore poetry to a Great Falls mural when a quote by native son William Carlos Williams was omitted during restoration work. She saw to it that a quote from another native son — 1960s Beat Generation poet Allen Ginsberg — was substituted: "The weight of the world is love."

Jersey City began its poet laureate program in 2019 for two-year terms. Third Poet Laureate Ann E. Wallace "is responsible for promoting a greater understanding and passion for poetry by engaging the community through public events and other platforms," a city spokeswoman said.

The position is not without controversy.

A Florida school has placed the poem read by Amanda Gorman, the first U.S. youth poet laureate, at President Biden's inauguration on its restricted list because "The Hill We Climb" refers to the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the Capitol.

New Jersey's state poet laureate post lasted only four years. Second New Jersey Poet Laureate Amiri Baraka's "Somebody Blew Up America" 2002 poem, about the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attack, was considered so incendiary that when Baraka refused to apologize or resign, the post was abolished in 2003. It has yet to be restored, said a spokeswoman for Gov. Phil Murphy's office.

Local goals

Pleasants has no such revolutionary goals in mind for the township's program.

The June 27 resolution says the poet laureate "will serve as Teaneck's literary ambassador at events that promote the literary arts and will nurture appreciation of poetry and literature."

"We are in the process now of organizing a poetry night at the library, where we will feature poets in town reading their work," Pagan said. "Lots of fun events like that in the works."

Pleasant hopes to "coordinate with our public township entities, the library, Recreation Department, and private establishments like the Puffin Cultural Foundation and local businesses that would be interested in supporting and promoting the arts through poetry readings, displays and spoken word."

He read his poem "Listen to the Poet" at the June 27 meeting.

"Listen to a Poet" by Scott Pleasants

When you want to see through the wall

that is right in front of you

listen to a poet

When you want to touch

what’s deep inside your heart

listen to a poet

When you want to clearly

hear those sounds in the distance

listen to a poet

When your reaching for the sky

and suddenly discovering your own path

I implore you to … just

listen to a poet

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Teaneck names former Air Force sergeant as its first poet laureate