Nashville’s First Youth Poet Laureate Shortlisted For First National Title

Nashville’s first Youth Poet Laureate visited the White House this week as one of five finalists vying for the National Youth Poet Laureate title.

Lagnajita Mukhopadhyay
 has reached significant recognition at home, with readings and performances that include Mayor Megan Barry’s inauguration, the State of Metro address and TEDxNashville
. Being a poet laureate also brought a book deal with a New York publisher, a collection of 50 poems entitled
This is Our War.

The Indian-born high school senior, who is a
 singer-songwriter as well, says the honor has “changed her mindset and her future.” But she knows she still has a lot to learn about poetry — and life.

Mukhopadhyay 
finds out if she has been selected as the first National Youth Poet Laureate in April.