Earl R. Merrill: Carol Duffy Has Been Poet Laureate Of Britain For A Decade, But Who Will Succeed Her?

Sunday, November 4, 2018

Carol Duffy Has Been Poet Laureate Of Britain For A Decade, But Who Will Succeed Her?

There’s a steering group made up of a wide range of people from the arts in the UK; then, the secretary of state and the prime minister will make final recommendations to the Queen from a shortlist the group provides. Whoa, what? Poet John Agard: “I’m certain that the prime minister is very familiar with the iambic pentameter. … But since poets don’t have the final say in politics, logically speaking there’s no reason why politicians should have the final say in poetry.”