Afterwords: Amanda Johnston, editor of Praisesong for the People
An interview series. This week, dive in with Amanda Johnston, editor of the anthology Praisesong for the People: Poems from the Heart and Soul of Texas.
For today’s Afterword’s interview, I’m honored to be joined by Amanda Johnston, the 61st Poet Laureate of Texas and the editor of Host Publication’s anthology Praisesong for the People: Poems from the Heart and Soul of Texas.
S: Thank you for joining me today, Amanda. To start, would you please share a brief summary about the book for my subscribers who may not be familiar with the project?
Amanda: Yes, of course. My favorite description of this project is “Edited by Amanda Johnston, the 61st Texas Poet Laureate and first Black woman to receive this honor, this vibrant anthology collects the work of 70 emerging and established poets across the state. Commissioned to write original poems celebrating everyday people, the poets in Praisesong for the People: Poems from the Heart and Soul of Texas are as diverse as the landscapes they inhabit, and reflect the intersecting identities of Texas’s population across age, gender, BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, disability, and immigrant communities. In these poems, their voices gather in a heartfelt chorus to praise the people in their communities who offer small kindnesses, asking nothing in return.
Praise the bus driver who ferries us safely across town. Praise the abuela who dries our tears. Praise the librarian who protects young curiosity. Praise the therapist with an open door, the teacher fluent in the language of affirmation. With story, testimony, and song, these poets give our unsung community heroes their flowers.”
S: I love this idea of praise and celebration despite all the challenges the world is facing. I’d love to hear more about the “spark” for this anthology. What was it?
Amanda: As Texas Poet Laureate, I wanted to do something that celebrated the diverse communities and poets across Texas. I also wanted to do something that created moments of joy and gratitude.
S: I found so many pockets of joy and gratitude in these poems, and it was so refreshing, especially with the darkness we’re feeling in 2026. In your opinion, what makes this year the right year to launch this work into the world?
Amanda: Gratitude and praise are always needed and right on time. During these dark and challenging times, we must lean into the light so we can see each other, find joy, and remain clear about what we want to see in the world. This collection is a guide to the light.
S: I love that—“This collection is a guide to the light.” As a poet laureate, you’re also serving as a guide to steward poetry into the community at large. How did your poet laureate’s work inform your approach to this project?
Amanda: I believe the role of a poet laureate is to amplify poetry and poets and be in service to the community. The project was in service to poets and the people. I hope it made a positive impact that will continue to reach people through the book.
S: I know this book is making an impact, and I’m so glad its light has reached me. Speaking of community, there are many voices, styles, and approaches to poems in this book, a perfect representation for the many communities that call Texas home. What did being an editor of this Anthology teach you about editing? What did it teach you about being a poet?
Amanda: We contain multitudes. Editing the anthology was a practice of trust more than anything else. The poets were commissioned to write the poems, and the only instructions they received were to write a praise poem for a person from their community. The poems that came back from these incredible poets were exactly what they needed to write and what we needed to receive and share. Trust the process. Trust the poets.
S: I love this idea of trusting the process and trusting the poets in this way. Many aspects of poetry are done on instinct, but sometimes event with good poetic intuition, we can’t predict where our work will take us. What is something that surprised you or challenged you while editing Praisesong?
Amanda: I knew that writing praise poems wouldn’t be easy. With people dealing with so much in their personal lives, and so many horrific things happening in the world, attempting to celebrate someone and express one’s gratitude can be a heavy lift. I wasn’t surprised then when some of the poets invited to the project declined, but the poets who said yes showed the many ways into the light and how praise and gratitude can be shared in unexpected ways for people we often take for granted.
S: Back to that point of trust, it sounds like the poets who were meant to cast light were able to, and readers in 2026 are in need of that light. I’d love to hear your thought on this: if a reader could only take away one thing after reading this book, what would you hope it would be?
Amanda: Good people are still in the world. Be one of them, and do good things for others.
S: Yes, yes yes! To close us out, where can people go to learn more about your work, about Praisesong, and about the poets featured in this project?
Amanda: You can buy Praisesong for the People: Poems from the Heart and Soul of Texas at Host Publications or Asterism. You can also learn more about the project at PraisesongforthePeople.com
Thank you S. for taking the time to interview me and for sharing Praisesong with your subscribers!
S: Thank you so much for sharing your experiences as editor and for your perspective on casting light during dark times. If you missed last week’s post, I read two of my favorite poems from Praisesong, which gives you a good idea of some of the joy and positivity radiating through the book!
If you’ve read Praisesong, what were your favorite poems?
What praisesong are you striving to write right now?