This is the text of John Gneisenau Neihardt's stirring address upon his selection as poet laureate of Nebraska. In it, he reflects on the meaning of poetry and its importance in human culture. He also discusses his own approach to writing and the themes that have inspired him throughout his career. A moving tribute to the power of poetry and the role of the poet in society. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.