The poet laureate who hailed from Pocahontas County, West Virginia was Louise McNeill (1911-1993).
McNeill was born and raised on her family's farm in Pocahontas County, and she drew heavily on her upbringing and the Appalachian landscape in her poetry. Her first book, Gauley Mountain, was published in 1939 and was praised for its use of local dialect and its authentic portrayal of rural life.
McNeill went on to publish several more collections of poems, including Elderberry Flood (1972), Hill Daughter (1984), and The Milkweed Ladies (1988), her memoir. She was named West Virginia's poet laureate in 1979, and she held the position until her death in 1993.
McNeill's poetry is known for its beauty, lyricism, and its deep connection to the natural world and the people of Appalachia. She is considered one of the most important poets from West Virginia, and her work continues to be read and appreciated today.
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