"If I could speak the words they would taste like wild irises," said departing Portsmouth poet laureate John Perrault, quoting one of Mimi White's poems. Then he symbolically passed the pen to her, in the form of a cast bronze sculpture of a quill on a parchment map of the East Coast.

"I thank the city of Portsmouth for honoring poetry," White said.

The ceremony at the Portsmouth City Council meeting on Monday, April 4 honored White's nomination as the city's fifth poet laureate. White has taught poetry to students of all ages and in a variety of settings for 25 years, and she's the author of two collections of poetry, "Into The Darkness We Go" and "The Singed Horizon," which was selected by Robert Creeley as the recipient of the 2000 Philbrick Poetry Award.

Mary Potter, a member of the selection committee and a high school teacher, spoke of the recent history of the program and its hope for new projects under the leadership of White. Past projects including a poetry CD under laureate Esther Buffler; a program of poetry in public places, including the city parking garage, under Robert Dunn; an anthology, "Portsmouth Unabridged," under Maren Tirabassi; and a public art and poetry project, "Voice and Vision," under Perrault. When asked about his experience over the last two years, Perrault praised the publishing recognition he gained as well as the opportunity to integrate his poetry with local artwork.

Katherine Towler, a trustee of the Portsmouth Poet Laureate Program and novelist, introduced Mimi and praised her continuing involvement in the community. Towler emphasized White's affinity for sharing her poetic vision with diverse Seacoast residents, highlighting her work through the state artist in the schools program as well as the many workshops with women in the Goffstown correctional facilities.

White fondly recalled one inmate's poem entitled "How to take a walk in a 9 x 12" cell as she shared her experiences there as workshop facilitator. After each session, she would linger a while and write from the inspiration she received there, incorporating her students' struggles and view of life with her own. White has taught English at the University of New Hampshire, Northern Essex Community College and Lesley University, but brought two poems from grade-schoolers to share at the ceremony. One spoke of the faith in the future as known only when "watching the moon, sitting on the hood of my dad's car and welcoming what was yet to come." White's appreciation for the talent in her students was evident and endearing.

White's hope for this year's project is still in the creative stages, but she would like to see something that involves the community writing together in a way that can bridge the gaps between age, gender and socio-economic backgrounds. She feels there's a need to generate inspiration between generations that can bring together a community that treasures the Seacoast's unique blend of hardworking New Englanders and artistic eccentrics.

Her most recent works both stem from the serenity of fishing: "In a Blind Spot, Reeling" a poetry compilation, and "Fishing the Sky" a children's book.