New Scottish Poet Laureate

Mon 4 May 2009 - Filed under: Not a Journal., , | Posted by: Gavin

Carol Ann Duffy wants her traditional payment of ‘a butt of sack’, which translates as around 600 bottles of sherry, up front as her predecessor hasn’t had his. Picture: PALovely news from the UK about the new poet laureate, Carol Ann Duffy, whose poetry we’ve enjoyed in the last couple of years. If you want to try her out, start with Feminine Gospels or The World’s Wife.

Duffy, the first woman and—since she was born in Glasgow and moved with her family to England when she was 5—the first Scot to get tapped for the job obviously knows how government works and is on top of the most important aspect of the job:

The World's Wife: Poems Cover

The job also comes with a “butt of sack” – traditionally a type of wine, which nowadays translates into around 600 bottles of sherry.

Duffy said: “Andrew (Motion) hasn’t had his yet so I’ve asked for mine up front.”

Should be more fun to read her occasional poetry than the poor, blocked Mr. Motion’s.