Mery Noel Smith, Spokane’s 5th Poet Laureate, began her two-year tenure in January 2024. Known for her deeply personal and reflective poetry, Smith is committed to expanding poetry's reach into unconventional spaces such as jails, addiction recovery centers, and community hubs. Her work emphasizes the power of words as tools for healing and transformation.

Raised in East Wenatchee, Washington, Smith's path to poetry was shaped by her experiences, including overcoming alcoholism and embracing motherhood. She credits these challenges with deepening her creative voice and perspective. After rediscovering poetry in her sobriety, Smith published her work in various regional outlets and anthologies, including Listen to Your Mother and Pivot and Pause. She also released a chapbook titled Crumbs.

Smith draws inspiration from poets like Mary Oliver and Ocean Vuong and strives to write poetry that captures profound emotional truths. She actively leads workshops to inspire others, particularly those in underserved communities, to see themselves as creators and storytellers. Through her role as poet laureate, Smith hopes to connect with diverse audiences and foster the healing potential of creativity