Simon Armitage, the New British Poet Laureate

In May, Queen Elizabeth II appointed Simon Armitage as the 21^st poet Laureate of the United Kingdom. Armitage’s literary and professional recognitions and accomplishments certainly merited the honor; not only had he published numerous collections of poetry, he had also published translations and retellings of classic British and Greek works. 

British poet laureates don’t have an official length for term in office. The first, John Dryden, was appointed by King Charles II in 1668 and served for almost 20 years; Alfred Lord Tennyson was poet laureate for almost 42 years. More recently, the poets appointed have served about 10 years. Some of the better-known laureates include Robert Southey, William Wordsworth, John Masefield, John Betjeman, Ted Hughes, Cecil Day-Lewis, and Andrew Motion. Armitage’s immediate predecessor, Carol Ann Duffy, was the first woman appointed to the position.

To continue reading, please see my post today at Tweetspeak Poetry.

Photograph: Simon Armitage.

British Poet Laureate Carol Ann Duffy

It’s a long and distinguished list, and includes Edmund Spenser, Ben Jonson, John Dryden, William Wordsworth, Alfred Lord Tennyson, John Masefield, Sir John Betjeman, and Ted Hughes. Until 2009, the poets who served as British poet laureates were all men.

And then came Carol Ann Duffy.

A Scot, Duffy is a poet, playwright, children’s author, and anthology editor. Her first collection was published in 1973. Some 10 collections later, she won the T.S. Eliot Prize for Rapture (2005).

Rapture is a remarkable collection of love poems documenting the rise and eventual fall of a love affair.

To continue reading, please see my post today at Tweetspeak Poetry.