Kay Ryan Is Appointed U.S. Poet Laureate

The Library of Congress announced Thursday the appointment of Kay Ryan as the 16th Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry for 2008-2009.

The native Californian will take up her duties Oct. 16 by reading her work at the opening of the Library's annual literary series. She also will be a featured guest at the Library of Congress National Book Festival in the Poetry pavilion Sept. 27 on the National Mall.

Read the full store here at PBS.org.

Kay Ryan @ Amazon.com

Recent Kay Ryan post @ FitzPoetryBlog

England's Poet Laureate: Is It Time for a female Yet?

Editor Robert Lee Brewer of Poetic Asides writes about the Poet Laureate debate that is going on in England in a post titled;Female Poet Laureate?!?

I have to admit that I did not know that in 340 years England has only had men Poet Laureates. You would think that over the years a woman would have been picked by now.

For a list of American Poet Laureates check out the Library of Congress' Poet Laureate timeline.