Billy Collins, the bestselling poet and former U.S. poet laureate, delighted a packed house at Featherstone Center for the Arts with his carefully observed poetry and humor.

West Tisbury’s new poet laureate is Tain Leonard-Peck, whose appointment was confirmed by the select board Wednesday afternoon.

Justen Ahren has always been a musician as well as a writer, releasing his first album Remembering more than 20 years ago.

The new poet laureate for West Tisbury, Spencer Thurlow, joined other Island poets on Sunday, including three former town laureates, at a reading held at the library.

The former poet laureate of West Tisbury, Justen Ahren, stepped into his Island-wide laureate role with an April 30 reception at the West Tisbury Free Public Library.

At age 81 Oak Bluffs poet laureate Michael Achille prefers the quiet side of inspiration. As for advice on the poetic life, he says, “you have to be a real feeling person and just have an interest in things.”