JOHN W. CRAWFORD

National Senior Poet Laureate convicted on four counts
of contributing to delinquency of a minor

The week after John W. Crawford won the 2012 National Senior Poet Laureate Award, he was arrested, booked, and then released for allegedly endangering 33 young people in Arkadelphia, Ark. We withheld publication of this news pending outcome of John’s court appearance in December. Here is a summary of events through December 31, 2012:

On Sept. 7, 2012 The Daily Siftings Herald broke the news: “Former Henderson State University Professor arrested"--Arkansas State Police on Friday arrested a retired Henderson State University professor for charges of contributing to the delinquency of a minor and theft of property.” No mention was made of his literary achievements that include numerous awards, three books about Shakespeare, plus three poetry books of his own works. Continued on page 2

John W. Crawford 2012 Arkansas And National Senior Poet Laureate Award Winner and his laureate poem
	THE ONE LESS TRAVELED BY
	I met him in a high school class One cold November day when we were told to turn the page and read along the way. The poem began, “Whose woods these are” In simple word and phrase, but by the end of “miles to go” I learned a man to praise. His name was Frost and new to me but not for very long, for “Mending Wall” and “Birches” too became my daily song.	His short “Design” and strong “Out, Out…” spoke to my inner soul; and reading slow “Reluctance” then helped make me pure and whole. So when I come to many roads and have to choose but one, the grassy path that needs more wear I know I cannot shun. For Frost gives words that ages hence I may look back and sigh; for it has made a difference— the one less traveled by. John W. Crawford