This is a contribution from a Swampscott High School student, as part of the Swampscott Tides Big Blue Student News selection. 

By Davit Movsesyan

Swampscott High School junior Joey Blood is the newest member of the Poet Laureate Committee, discovering a passion for poetry almost by accident earlier this year. 

Last fall, the Select Board approved the creation of the committee to select a poet laureate. A poet laureate is officially appointed by a government or institution and is expected to compose poetry for special occasions. In Massachusetts, Regie Gibson was named the Commonwealth’s inaugural poet laureate in 2025. Many municipalities also have their own poets laureate, including J.D. Scrimgeour, who began a two-year term in Salem in 2025, and Michelle “LaPoetica” Richardson, appointed in April 2025 to a two-year term in Lynn.

In addition to Blood, Stephen Iannaccone, a former poet laureate; Nancy Hewitt, Swampscott’s first poet laureate; Debbie Friedlander, a member of the Trustees of the Public Library; and Sami Lawler, a retired teacher who previously organized the Young Poet Laureate program, serve on Swampcott’s committee. 

And for Blood, what began as a simple creative outlet has now quickly become an important part of his life and personal growth.

Born on June 29, 2009, to Joseph Robert Blood and Linette Marie McAskill, Blood is the middle child of five. Blood speaks proudly of his siblings, describing his sister as “one of the most intelligent people I have ever met” and his older brother as “one of the best football players Swampscott has ever seen.”

From a young age, Blood faced challenges after being diagnosed with ADHD. School was often difficult, both academically and socially, and staying focused in class was a constant struggle. He recalls one memorable incident when the school contacted his parents after he forgot to take his ADHD medication, the only time it had ever happened. 

Despite these challenges, Blood eventually found an unexpected source of focus and self-expression through poetry.

Although he had appreciated poetry for years, Blood did not begin writing seriously until his sophomore year while taking the MCAS exam. During the test, he wrote his first poem and realized that writing helped channel his energy and improve his concentration. Since then, poetry has become both a creative passion and a valuable coping mechanism.

“Not many people know that I write poetry,” he continues. “I write in the ABCB format. I’m trying to write enough to get published this year. While I don’t write as much as I did at the start of junior year, I am still writing very regularly, and, as with anything, my skills have improved massively. I hope it will continue to improve in the future.”

Blood’s involvement with the Poet Laureate Committee began when his AP English teacher, Peter Franklin, approached him about an open position. 

“At first, I thought I was in trouble,” Blood joked. 

Instead, Franklin explained that he believed Blood would be a strong addition to the committee. Blood immediately liked the opportunity to become involved in something he genuinely enjoyed while also giving back to the community.

“ I liked the idea of participating in something that I enjoyed and also helping the town,” Blood said.