Three Oaks is one of the few villages in the country with the official position of  Village Poet Laureate, and Harbor Arts is proud to sponsor the selection of a new Poet Laureate bi-annually. 

The Poetry Board of the Village of Three Oaks, Michigan and Harbor Arts announced that Tom Rosenbluth has been named Poet Laureate of Three Oaks for 2023. In addition, Eloise Verdun, has been selected to receive the Young Poet Award.

 Mr. Rosenbluth, of Three Oaks, has had a career as an educator, teacher and school principal.  He serves on the Three Oaks Township Library Board, the River Valley School Board, and is a Past President of Harbor Country Rotary.  He will be the 18th Poet Laureate of the Village of three Oaks Three Oaks.

 Ms. Verdun of Three Oaks, age 16, is a student at La Lumiere School.  She has a continuing interest in writing and poetry and has been published in school journals and magazines.

Their Amazing Poems…

Rare Bird by Tom Rosenbluth

Once I came across
a flag
snagged in some rocks
on the shore of a northern island

But also ourselves I suppose the wild winds had carried it away
in the dead of night,
kidnapping it from a pole
in a patriot’s yard.

It lay folded in on itself
 and torn,
like a wounded bird,
yet it still fluttered a bit
to bravely show its colors.

 Gently, I dug it free,
smoothed the folds,
shook debris and sand off its face
until it smiled and filled in a billowy sheet.

 A few seagulls and I
stood a little straighter
as we watched America unfurl,
a dream made tangible.

 I folded it with military care
in the proper way,
and keep it till this day.

Sometimes I imagine it flying
across the country,
in and out of yards,
tapping on windows, reminding us to take care. 

A rare bird.

Poem by Eloise Verdun

We the people are divided
Split right down in two
Filled with hate and mistrust
Hurting not only each other

Though once we can learn
That our colors make us America
Our red white and blue
Coming together in Union
We are not only striped
But also stars