News
Announcing the Public Poetry Project!
This April, the Portsmouth Poet Laureate Program (PPLP) & City of Portsmouth’s Arts and Cultural Commission are launching the Public Poetry Project.
Deadline Extended for the Comfort Rounds Anthology!
Submit Your Poems to the Comfort Rounds Anthology! Deadline extended to March 5th, 2026!
We are seeking poems that offer support and comfort, not just for Medical Professionals, but for all who help others.
Nominate our next Poet Laureate!
The PPLP Board is now accepting nominations for our next Portsmouth Poet Laureate!
Join Our Board!
The PPLP needs board members!
Be a part of this amazing tradition of building community with poetry.
Submissions for the Comfort Rounds Anthology are now Open!
We are seeking poems to support and uplift Medical Professionals* and welcome your musings, anecdotes, and words of kindness.
Comfort Rounds: Round 3 Centos
Thank you to everyone who attended Comfort Rounds: Round 3, both in-person and on Zoom! These centos were composed of your words by Lauren WB Vermette.
Comfort Rounds are back!
Please join us on Saturday, May 31st, from 12 – 2pm at the Portsmouth Public Library’s Levenson Room for Comfort Rounds 3: Greeting Card Gratitudes, an afternoon of playing with short poems that leap off the page and into the heart.
Painting Poetry – April 8
Our next “Painting Poetry” is coming up! Join us on April 8th for an evening of open mic poetry and improv painting!
The Teen Hoot!
Kick off National Poetry Month with us on April 2nd at Stroll’s Portwalk location with 6 teen poets from Portsmouth High School!
Comfort Rounds: Round 2 Centos
Thank you to everyone who attended Comfort Rounds: Round 2, both in-person and on Zoom! These centos were composed of your words by Lauren WB Vermette.
Comfort Rounds: Round 1 Centos
Thank you to everyone who attended Comfort Rounds: Round 1 both in-person and on Zoom! These centos were composed of your words by Lauren WB Vermette.
PPLP: Comfort Rounds Workshop
Join Portsmouth Poet Laureate, Lauren WB Vermette for a new workshop series: “Comfort Rounds”
“Comfort Rounds” is a series of generative poetry workshops where we give care back to our caregivers and hospital staff with the gift of our words.










