MONTPELIER — With tree lightings and other traditional gatherings canceled by COVID-19 pandemic restrictions this year, Gov. Phil Scott and 12 other state officials have recorded poetry readings to celebrate the winter holidays.
The Holiday Poetry Celebration is an 18-minute program produced by the Vermont Department of Libraries. It can be seen at https://youtu.be/2pV6dAmQaaw.
"We hope that these poems and stories light up and enrich your lives, even during these dark times, State Librarian & Commissioner of Libraries Jason Broughton says in his introduction.
The video includes:
- "Christmas Mail" by Ted Kooser, read by Secretary Susanne Young, Agency of Administration;
- "Big Brown Moose" by Joyce Sidman, read by Secretary Anson Tebbetts, Agency of Agriculture, Food, & Markets;
- "The Shortest Day" by Susan Cooper, read by Secretary Lindsay Kurrle, Agency of Commerce & Community Development;
- "Snow Day" by Billy Collins, read by Secretary Dan French, Agency of Education;
- "Stopping by the Woods" by Rick Bessette, read by Secretary Julie Moore, Agency of Natural Resources;
- "Winter Morning Poem" by Ogden Nash, read by Secretary Joe Flynn, Agency of Transportation;
- "Christmas Greetings" by Anonymous, read by Commissioner Mike Pieciak, Department of Financial Regulation;
- "December 26" by Kenn Nesbitt, read by Commissioner Michael Harrington, Department of Labor;
- "The Bunnies and the Snowman/Los Conejitos Y El Muñeco de Nieve" by Maria Alonso Santamaría, read in Spanish by Executive Director for Racial Equity Xusana Davis;
- "What Do the Trees Know?" by Joyce Sidman, read by Scott's chief of staff, Jason Gibbs;
- "Amazing Peace: A Christmas Poem" by Dr. Maya Angelou, read by Scott's general counsel, Jaye Johnson; and
- "Christmas Eve" by Nikki Grimes, read by Director of Policy Development and Legislative Affairs Kendal Smith.
In a separate video, Scott reads Clement Moore's "Twas the Night Before Christmas." That video can be seen at https://youtu.be/wpWJiwoPaqQand.
Gov. Phil Scott reads Clement Moore's "'Twas the Night Before Christmas."