02 May 2009

What is the point?

No disrespect to Ms Duffy - who seems as worthy a candidate as any other - but do we really need a poet laureate? Especially as the appointment seems to have been more influenced by the government than the sovereign. Can anyone remember any decent poetry produced by a poet laureate as part of his official duties?

I suppose that it's cheap - butts of sack are not particularly expensive - and adds to the gaiety of the nation. But, for me, poetry is a personal thing rather than an exercise in prostituting one's ability in order to celebrate national occasions.

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