2025 Dutchess County Poet Laureate

Ruth Danon

  • Ruth Danon’s fourth book of poetry, Turn Up the Heat, was published by Nirala Series in 2023. Her prose and poetry have appeared in many publications in the United States and abroad, most recently in On the Seawall, Noon: The Journal of the Short Poem,Sunday Salon Zine, The Nu Review, and TheCAPS 25th Anniversary Anthology.  Her work is forthcoming in Pratik, The Beltway Quarterly,  and the Poetry is Bread Anthology, She has performed her poetry across the United States and abroad and has appeared in many podcasts and zoom readings For 23 years she taught in the Creative and Expository Writing Programs she designed and directed for NYU’s School of Professional Studies.  Founder of Live Writing: A Project for the Reading, Writing, and Performance of Poetry, she teaches for Live Writing and New York Writers Workshop. A Bard College graduate, she now lives in Beacon, NY, where she curates literary events and works to create a community of poets. She was one of the founding curators of the BeaconLitfest@the Howland. More about her and her poetry and career can be found at https://www.ruthdanon.com/

Upcoming Events

  • Next Year’s Words

    Next Year’s Words, founded and hosted by Susan Chute, is a reading forum in New Paltz for creative writing in local communities. We aim to mix young and seasoned voices, juxtaposing works of fiction, poetry, memoir, and nonfiction from different stages of life. Includes an open mic, refreshments, and intriguing introductions.


    at Elting Memorial Library
    93 Main St, New Paltz, NY
    September 17th, 2025 at 7:00pm

  • Poetry as Protest and Political Action

    Dutchess County Poet Laureate Ruth Danon and Ulster County Poet Laureate Mike Jurkovic read and invitea community discussion of politics and poetry in these troubling times. “Bring your own words and ideas.”

    at Beahive
    6 Eliza Street, Beacon NY
    September 25th, 2025
    7:00 pm

  • Laureates and Friends, curated by Ruth Danon

    Past and Present Poets Laureate join with poetry friends to welcome the fall season with poetry.

    at Howland Cultural Center
    477 Main Street, Beacon, NY
    September 27th, 2025
    7:00 pm

Previous Poet Laureates