Simon Armitage named Britain’s new poet laureate

Ivan Annibal — Mon, 13 May 2019 04:45:58 +0000

Jessica and I were once held up on a speaking rota by Simon Armitage reading his poetry. As I recall a lot of the stuff had a landscape and countryside bent. He comes from the same neck of the woods as Ted Hughes, where there is obviously something poetic in the water!!! So I am sort of pleased he has achieved this accolade…. This article tells us:

Simon Armitage will succeed Dame Carol Ann Duffy as the UK’s next poet laureate, with the Queen approving his appointment for a fixed term of 10 years.

Mr Armitage – who received the Queen’s Gold Medal for Poetry last year – said he wants to “help poetry explore its potential” in an age of multimedia.

While the position does not entail any specific duty, as the 21st poet laureate Mr Armitage will be expected to produce poetry to celebrate national occasions and royal events.

multimedia – Hinterland

Simon Armitage named Britain’s new poet laureate