Ted Kooser- What does a poet laureate DO?

[Doreen Peri]

http://www.writenews.com/2004/082004_kooser_poet.htm

Ted Kooser was just recently appointed US Poet Laureate of the US. Anybody read him? Not me. Never heard of him until Sunday when I read a very funny column by Gene Weingarten in the Washington Post magazine called "En Garde, Bard!" - where Gene and Ted had a little (s)wordplay repartee. Good stuff!

But I'm confused. The article linked above says he succeeds Louise Glück as Poet Laureate. And though I remember Louise Glück being Poet Laureate, I thought Billy Collins was the current Poet Laureate.

Anybody know how Billy Collins fits into this? Who's the current Poet Laureate... Louise or Billy? It's some time in October when Ted Kooser, a Nebraska poet, takes the designation.

What exactly does a Poet Laureate DO? Do they get a salary? If so, who pays them? And how much do they get paid? It's a prestigious title for sure. But I've always wondered what goes along with the honor. I imagine it helps a lot with book sales. But are they on the US Govt payroll? Do they go to Senate breakfasts and luncheons and read exerpts from their recently published collection?

Do states also designate a Poet Laureate? Just wondering.

And what happens to a Poet Laureate once he or she steps down? Do they get a gold watch from the govt and a retirement income? Do they get asked to recite at high school graduations and chamber of commerce events? Do they get invited to perform on MTV? Or do they go back home to their computers and type poetry on the internet like the rest of us?

[Zlatko Waterman]

Poet Laureates are "honored" in a variety of ways.

I think they're "named" by the Librarian of Congress ( whoever that is . . .).

In this country ( unlike England, where they are named by the queen) they don't have to spew out poetry for official occasions much.

Here's a little Ted Kooser snippet:

http://www.poemhunter.com/ted-kooser/poet-10125/

Based on the strength (?) of the poems available on this site, I could name a few hundred other poets I know who qualify as US Laureate.



--Z

[Lightning Rod]

I'll tell you what I would do if I were Poet Laureate.
First, there are poetry groupies out there, believe me.
Of course the government would have to supply me with opium and hashish.

I would forget my pants when I recited at the inauguration.

I would have secret service agents protecting me
and on their off hours they could carry the fan
so I could always have wind in my hair
just like Richard Burton in the movie Candy

I would drink only single malt whiskey and smoke Balkan Sobraines
if I were Poet Laureate.

And the government would pay my bills
if I were Poet Laureate

[sooZen]

well, If I was the library of Congress (and blissfully, I am not) I would nominate Lrod as poet laureate because I really would like to see that show!

[Doreen Peri]

Thanks for the link, Z

LR- hope you get all the groupies you can't handle

sooZ- LR said he wanted to nominate me for poet laureate of the internet but he did a google search and couldn't find the application form.

Here are two very good links about poet laureates (thanks to a friend on another board) - seems they get $35K a year for promoting the appreciation and writing of poetry ... not bad ...

http://www.loc.gov/poetry/laureate.html

http://oh.essortment.com/whatisapoetl_rlwn.htm

[Doreen Peri]

Who's the US Poet Laureate now? Anybody know?

Is it still Ted Kooser?

(I posted this topic in 2004.. it's now 2009...)

How long is a Poet Laureate's term?

[mtmynd]

if 'google' ain't jivin' me, Kay Ryan is the current Poet Laureate...

http://www.loc.gov/poetry/laureate_current.html

i believe they're around until a new President comes in...

[Nazz]

Not much, I'm guessing. Doreen, thanks for the bump. I was in the desert in '05 when I heard about Ted. "Wow, we actually have a poet laureate?" They read one of his poems, something about walking in the winter woods with chimney smoke frozen. It was very subtle. And then NPR started to fade out...

[mb]

When Ted Kooser was Poet Lariat,
he came to my town,
and spoke at our public library.
I took my youngest daughter,
who was twelve at the time.
The insurance company executive
who got up every morning
at oh-four-thirty to write before work
read a handful of his poems
and then answered questions.
I raised my hand and asked him
could he explain to my daughter
why poetry matters. He said
(to the best of my recollection) that
while poetry was one of many ways
to reach people, it was uniquely special -
poetry could capture hearts and minds,
could make people think deeply,
and help them understand the world.
He also said that poets give away
something of themselves in doing so.
Afterwards, he shook my hand
signed my copy of Sure Signs
and chatted a moment with Molly.
I liked Ted Kooser's poetry before
he visited in his official capacity,
and I liked the man from that moment on.

that's what Poet Laureates do.

-mb