Smithfield Names Town Poet

Speaking of celebrated poets, Laurence J. Sasso, Jr., former poetry editor of Rhode Islander magazine and a well respected journalist (and managing editor of Observer Publications), became the first Town Poet in Smithfield RI's 272 year history. The job, which has no pay, no benefits, and does not come with a corner office, is to honor Sasso, who lives in Smithfield.


In accepting the post, he read a new work that had been specifically written for the event.

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Council Chambers

In this room of words
and wisdom and heat
this room where power
sits down with worry and debate,
in this place of decisions,
talk and argument,
laughter and solemn proclamations,
sometimes we all must stop and listen
to the silence between the sentences,
the moments when
we mere men and women
think of the brightly burning stars
that lift our heads and touch us
as our lives touch other lives


Read Other Poems by Sasso

Read the ProJo Article