On April 22, 2022, Knoxville Poet Laureate Rhea Carmon and Knoxville Youth Poet Laureate Melody Dalili shared their poem at Mayor Kincannon's State of the City address.
State of the City
Standing in the place where empathy learned to serve humanity
We state that our city has stood for our city despite its unsteady states
Tirelessly carrying the burden of necessities’ work
A game of tug of war, players fighting,
Bargaining,
Desperately grappling for their own desires
Only to find ourselves together
Making the choice to use this special rope for good
To make indestructible the bond from neighbor to neighbor
Ninety-two years in the making, a woven basket holding the fruits of the city
A harvest serving the citizens
With community as the master,
Working to create space for history to become the home of leaders
Who dedicate their lives to sacrifice;
Click here to view entire poem
Rhea Carmon shares new poetry every Sunday. This poem was shared on October 18, 2020.
Conversations
Click here to watch Rhea present Conversations in video on her Facebook account.
Clothe Yourself with a Vote is an expression for the city to get out and vote. Poem shared on October 14, 2020.
Clothe Yourself With A Vote
In "Home is Knoxville," RheaSunshine exalts the beauty found in our city and reminds us to experience nature as a balm during complicated times. Poem shared on October 5, 2020.
Home is Knoxville
