Nebraska’s current State Poet, Matt Mason, writes about the seemingly conflicting sides of the state – its rural farmlands and the cities of concrete. He was born in 1968, attended college in California, and in 2019 was named Nebraska’s third State Poet.
Mason has published eight books of poetry, writing about his home state, fatherhood, nature, and poetry itself. His style varies from humorous to sentimental, often within the same piece. Over his career he has received several awards for his work including a Pushcart Prize and two Nebraska Book Awards.
He has also worked internationally, promoting poetry in Botswana, Romania, Nepal, and Belarus through the U.S. State Department. He especially focused on teaching slam poetry to high schoolers on these trips around the world. He is a vocal advocate of Nebraska arts and has a passion to bring his home state to the wider world.
One of Mason’s collections of poetry is available at Bellevue University Library, located in the general collection. All books can be borrowed for 21 days with the option of renewal.
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