Hello! I’m Larksong’s intern Amanda Grace Shu, bringing you another interview with one of the talented members of the Larksong Board of Directors. Today, I have the pleasure of introducing you all to Twyla Hansen, Nebraska’s State Poet from 2013 to 2018.
Twyla met Karen Gettert Shoemaker, Larksong’s founder, through the long-running writing group Prairie Trout. “[Larksong] has been a dream of Karen’s for a long time,” Twyla said. “I got involved when Karen called me and explained that in order to be a non-profit, we needed to have a board of directors—otherwise she would have done it all herself! I was happy to say yes. I think it’s in our best interest for this to be a community organization.
“It’s a brand-new concept for Lincoln,” she added. “There’s nothing quite like this in Nebraska. But there have always been good writers here, and I think Larksong is going to be the key to developing that network of writers. Our goal is to really be that center of the writing universe.”
As State Poet—not Poet Laureate, she explained, as John Neihardt holds that title in perpetuity—Twyla has traveled all over Nebraska. “I probably averaged 4000 miles a year,” she said. She loved visiting high schools and especially middle schools due to the students’ enthusiasm: “They don’t hold back at times,” she said, beaming. “I just love it when they can’t wait to write something! They’re so eager.”
Twyla has seen the same enthusiasm in the class she taught at Larksong in January. One prompt she gave sparked so much inspiration that participants had already written a full page of notes by the time Twyla finished explaining it! “[Larksong] is a great place for both new and experienced writers to practice writing,” she said. “It’s something I believe in strongly—you have to practice writing.”
When I asked how her own writing practice routine has been affected by the pandemic, the conversation took a somber tone. “We’ve all had a lot of losses,” she said. “Almost everybody knows somebody who has passed away [due to COVID]. But this culture doesn’t really allow open grieving.” For Twyla, writing is how she processes everything that has happened in the past few years, which include personal losses as well as global concerns.
It’s a comforting thing to hear from a fellow writer, which touches upon another important aspect of Larksong: building community among writers in Nebraska and beyond. “There’s a lot to be said for writers supporting each other,” Twyla said. “And I think that’s what could make Larksong unique. It’s hard to get people together right now, but post-COVID, I think Larksong can be a place where people come together.”
Her advice to young poets? Read extensively, try new things, and write every day, even if nothing comes of it. “It’s kind of like inviting the muse to visit,” she said. “The muse may not be with you that day, but at least you’ve honored that process.”