Poet laureate
A poet laureate is a poet officially appointed by the government of a country. He or she is responsible for writing poems for special occasions in that country, for example a coronation or military victory.
The first official Poet Laureate was Ben Jonson in 1619. There are also Poets Laureate in the United States, Canada, and New Zealand.
The Poet Laureate of the United Kingdom is Carol Ann Duffy. She was appointed Poet Laureate on 1 May 2009 to take the place of Andrew Motion. She is the first British woman Poet Laureate.
Poet Laureate Media
A depiction of Torquato Tasso from a German encyclopedia, 1905. Note the laurel crown.
Tsegaye Gabre-Medhin of Ethiopia
Mohammad-Taqi Bahar poet laureate of Mozaffar ad-Din Shah Qajar.
Portrait of Geoffrey Chaucer of England
Edwin Morgan, first Makar or National Poet for Scotland
Toronto's Poet Laureate George Elliott Clarke who later became Parliamentary Poet Laureate of Canada
Derek Walcott of Saint Lucia
Joy Harjo, Poet Laureate of the United States
- Amanda Gorman with Tracy K Smith - 2017 crop.jpeg
Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden, Poet Laureate Tracy K. Smith, and National Youth Poet Laureate Amanda Gorman.
