Cupertino Poet Laureate
Current City of Cupertino Poet Laureate: Keiko O’Leary
Welcome Keiko O’Leary, Cupertino’s seventh Poet Laureate. Keiko can’t wait to celebrate creativity in Cupertino by leading workshops and hosting events that bring our community together. Keiko is a creativity expert and the author of Your Writing Matters: 34 Quick Essays to Get Unstuck and Stay Inspired. She plans to share her deep knowledge of the craft of poetry in fun ways, and to help Cupertino residents create and experience poetry so that we can all receive the gifts that poetry provides.
Keiko’s term began January 1, 2023 and will continue through December 31, 2025.
2024 State of the City Poem: Friends Create Cupertino by Keiko O'Leary
From the saltwater aquarium at the Cupertino Library,
a butterfly fish gazes into my baby son’s eyes
then flits off in a spray of tiny bubbles.
My little daughter laughs and lifts her arms.
My father swings her up and holds her to his heart.
“Grandpa,” she says, with the certainty of being four years old,
“The fish are our friends.”
Another year, when my son can walk,
we dance in a circle with Otter and the other animals,
bronze statues that remind us of characters from a book.
They are real to my children. They are our friends.
And later still, at McClellan Ranch, we draw the trees.
I realize they are our friends, too: oak, buckeye, redwood,
accepting our attention with their silent smiles.
My memories to me are also friends:
my dad’s job selling suits at Vallco mall,
the joy I felt each spring on seeing blossoms
of wisteria fill the trellis in the parking lot.
The movie theater at The Oaks I went to as a teen,
the cherry blossom festival in Memorial Park.
These memories are friends I visit
even though the landscape may have changed.
I have human friends as well,
writers and poets
practicing our craft together
at Quinlan Community Center,
at restaurants and cafés.
We share our lives through the work that we create.
I see the future in the sky,
in clouds that rise up brilliant
and edged with sun.
Under that sky in Cupertino,
other friends are working, too.
We create the city together
through everything we do.
Apply to be the City of Cupertino's next Poet Laureate
Recruitment to select the 2026-27 Poet Laureate will begin Spring 2025.
Vision and Mission
Our Vision
The Cupertino Poet Laureate program will stimulate cultural and literary awareness in Cupertino; introduce youth and adults to the personal and community benefits of poetry both as personal reflection and as a reflection of our history and culture; reveal, recognize, and engage literary talent residing in our community; and promote our library as a cultural center in Cupertino.
Our Mission
To provide the residents of Cupertino with programs, workshops, and events which introduce and reinforce poetry as an enriching cultural art-form open and accessible to all.
Poet Laureate Playbook
Poet Laureate Playbook 2016(PDF, 1MB)
Objectives
Objectives
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Raise awareness of poetry as a viable cultural art form for Cupertino residents, as measured by media presence, event variety, and increasing participation.
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Build interest in the various poetry forms, as measured by event and workshop participation.
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Build a desire for residents to be involved in further art and cultural activities.
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Increase active participation in all art forms, especially poetry, by all ages and ethnic communities who form the rich fabric of Cupertino as measured by offerings and involvement.
Programs and Events
Programs and Events
Visit the Cupertino Library to view the full list of Poet Laureate programs.
About the Position
About the Position
The Cupertino Poet Laureate is an honorary, volunteer position sponsored by the City of Cupertino and seated in the Cupertino Library. Sponsors and support network include the Cupertino Library Commission, Friends of the Cupertino Library, and the Cupertino Library Foundation.
The Poet Laureate is a practicing poet with professional recognition and a talent for performance. The Poet Laureate is expected to host public events that promote the literary arts in our community and inspire creativity in all residents. Such events might include poetry contests, writing workshops, lectures, and public readings.
Each Poet Laureate brings a unique set of skills, attributes and interests to the position along with varied and unique approaches to poetry. It is preferred that the Cupertino Poet Laureate (CPL) come to the position with a willingness and experience in: