Milwaukee names Mario Willis next poet laureate

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Milwaukee has named a new poet laureate and he's excited to get to work. 

Mario Willis is a Milwaukee native and has been featured throughout the city as a performer and writing guide. For more than 16 years, Willis has collaborated with nationally recognized spoken word artists and award-winning poets. 

For the next two years, Willis will make guest appearances and promote poetry in the community for the Milwaukee Public Library.

"What I especially love about poetry is it allows me to be descriptive in a way where I could paint these images with words that get transferred into peoples' minds," Willis said. 

The appointment will be made official at an event in June. The exact date and time will be announced soon. 

For now, you can catch his work at "Poet's Monday" Linneman's Riverwest Inn every week.