Astoria resident named Queens poet laureate

Astoria resident Maria Lisella has been named the Queens poet laureate.

“Ms. Lisella is an amazing writer who is capable of synthesizing the borough’s many cultures and languages into incredible poetry,” said borough president Melinda Katz in a statement.

Lisella is the author of three books of poetry, including the recently published Thieves in the Family (from NYQ Books), along with Amore on Hope Street (from Finishing Line Press) and Two Naked Feet (from PWP Books), which were both nominated for Pushcart Prizes. Her poetry has also been published in Feile Fiesta, LIPS, Paterson Literary Review, Skidrow Penthouse, The New York Quarterly, First Literary Review East and Pirene’s Fountain. Ms. Lisella won Honorable Mention for the Allen Ginsberg Poetry Award and is a charter member of the brevitas online poetry circle.

Born in South Jamaica and educated in Flushing, Lisella has called Astoria home for the last 40 years.

“To me, Queens epitomizes what New York City has always been: the first stop for immigrants in their quest for a new life,” said Lisella in a statement. “Today, it is easier for merchandise and goods to cross borders than people.  Poetry is linked to human movement because all of our stories are renewed by the flow of cultures; and Queens has myriad stories to tell.”