LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION honoring Tracy K. Smith of Brooklyn, New York,
upon the occasion of capturing the 2012 Pulitzer Prize for Poetry

WHEREAS, Individuals who give of their time and energies and serve the
best interests of their communities are an asset beyond remuneration and
cannot be sufficiently extolled; and
WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to acknowledge
outstanding individuals whose professional lives, personal endeavors and
community service are an example and inspiration to their colleagues,
friends, and family; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-
standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to honor
Tracy K. Smith of Brooklyn, New York, upon the occasion of capturing the
2012 Pulitzer Prize for Poetry; and
WHEREAS, An Assistant Professor of Creative Writing in the Lewis
Center for the Arts and Richard Stockton Bicentennial Preceptor at
Princeton University, Tracy K. Smith was awarded the 2012 Pulitzer Prize
for Poetry for her acclaimed work entitled, LIFE ON MARS; and
WHEREAS, In awarding the prestigious prize, which recognizes a distin-
guished volume of original verse by an American author, the Pulitzer
Prize committee called LIFE ON MARS a collection of bold, skillful
poems, taking readers into the universe and moving them to an authentic
mix of joy and pain; and
WHEREAS, Published by Greywolf Press in 2011, LIFE ON MARS is the
third published collection of poetry by Tracy K. Smith; it follows her
2007 collection, DUENDE, which won the James Laughlin Award from the
Academy of American Poets, the only award for poetry in the United
States given to support a poet's second book; her first work, THE BODY'S
QUESTION, won the 2002 Cave Canem Poetry Prize; and
WHEREAS, Tracy K. Smith is also the recipient of a 2004 Rona Jaffe
Award and a 2005 Whiting Award; she was the Literature protege in 2009-
2011 cycle of the Rolex Mentor and Protege Arts Initiative; and
WHEREAS, Raised in northern California, Tracy K. Smith began her jour-
ney as a poet at Harvard University, where she graduated in 1994 with a
bachelor's degree in English and American literature and Afro-American
studies; she also holds an MFA in creative writing from Columbia Univer-
sity; and
WHEREAS, A member of the Princeton University faculty since 2006,
Tracy K. Smith has also taught at the City University of New York, the
University of Pittsburgh and Columbia University; and
WHEREAS, Tracy K. Smith resides in Boerum Hill, Brooklyn, New York,
with her husband and two-year old daughter; and
WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that when an indi-
vidual of such noble aims and accomplishments is brought to our atten-
tion, she should be recognized by all the citizens of this great Empire
State; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
honor Tracy K. Smith of Brooklyn, New York, upon the occasion of captur-
ing the 2012 Pulitzer Prize for Poetry; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Tracy K. Smith.