Valley of the Poets
...believing in the beauty of their dreams
Welcome to the Merrimack Valley of Massachusetts, known by many as the Valley of the Poets.
Beginning with America's first published poet, Anne Dudley Bradstreet (1612-1672), to the favorite poet, Robert Frost ((1874-1963), the Valley of the Poets is the birthplace of poetry in the United States. Native son John Greenleaf Whittier (1807-1892) was born in Haverhill and Harriet Beecher Stowe (1811-1896) resided in Andover. All four were inspired by the community around them along with their harsh, yet lovely New England surroundings. All four were inspired by the community surrounding them as they were inspired by their surroundings.
This thread of creativity was left to us as we harvest our heritage.
The excitement grows in North Andover as more and more is uncovered at the site of the two Bradstreet homes, the first burned down in 1666.
"Upon the Burning of Our House, July 10, 1666" details the destruction and desolation felt by Mistress Bradstreet that day and on into the future. For us living today, the discovery four years ago of the exact place of that dwelling caused joy and sadness, knowing the loss she and her family suffered that fateful day. No lives were lost, but so much of Anne was destroyed. More here. You will better understand what she lost . . . and what some have now rediscovered right here in town!
MEET Karen M. Kline
Since moving to North Andover in 1983, she has spent much of her time volunteering in schools in numerous states and Canada, and spearheaded a program at a college in Lahore, Pakistan.
Karen's favorite poem by Anne Bradstreet:
To My Dear Children
This Book by Any yet unread,
I leave for you when I am dead,
That, being gone, here you may find
What was your living mother’s mind.
Make use of what I leave in Love
And God shall blesse you from above.
More about Anne from The Literary Traveler, here.
To My Dear Children—American Literature I: An Anthology of Texts from Early America The Early 20th Century, here.
As the third North Andover Poet Laureate (2012-2016), Karen is inspired by the beauty of nature and shares her love of the written word with people of any age at any stage of life. She has presented to students from preschool through college.
Notable Projects from the Valley of the Poets
Beginning in 1995, Karen discovered LITER-Art, with the hope of introducing any community to the joy of the poetic verse as much as people enjoy fine art. To that end, she has developed programs within school districts where students produce an art/poetry piece together on one page. These are then displayed in various ways in town businesses, professional offices, libraries, schools, restaurants, and many other venues.
Comment cards are essential here.
For more information about why, see this article.
In September 2005, Karen approached the North Andover Select Board to appoint a town poet laureate. After the question, "What is a poet laureate?" was answered, they agreed and in February 2006, the first poet laureate was appointed.
Throughout 2012, Karen coordinated programs throughout Essex County to celebrate the 400th Birthday of Anne Bradstreet. The year begain with a January 1 gathering on a dark farm field with the theme of Fire and Ice, a title borrowed from Anne's neighbor,, Robert Frost. For more, go to annedradstreet.org.
Since Anne Bradstreet was a member of one of the founding families of Cambridge, MA (originally called Newtowne), she returned in spirit to Cambridge in 1997, when a Harvard University gate was named in her honor. To celebrate the 25th year of the naming of the gate, in September of 2022, Karen coordinated readings at the gate by the first women's class to reside in Harvard Yard, the Class of 1972.
The many other programs Karen has supported or produced are too numerous to list here. For information and/or questions, please fill out the contact form.
Contact Us
Learn more about Karen M. Kline and/or the Valley of the Poets