Duff

A long time ago I loved poetry. I read poetry, I wrote poetry, I breathed poetry. I learned word rhythm from the poets of old. I learned playfullness of language with the new poets...

But I was left cold by Andrew Motion's promotion some years back, as I am today by Carol Ann Duffy's appointment. I would want a real poet laureate to be at the Prime Minister's side during important press conferences, with a few words to underline prepared statements. The Press would have to report the poem as part of their editorial, the Media would have to show B-roll of it in their political round-up... Poetry would become a truly essential part of life, instead of the marginalised affectation it is.