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

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  A depiction of Torquato Tasso from a German encyclopedia, 1905. Note the laurel crown.

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  Toronto's Poet Laureate George Elliott Clarke who later became Parliamentary Poet Laureate of Canada

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  Tsegaye Gabre-Medhin of Ethiopia

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  Mohammad-Taqi Bahar poet laureate of Mozaffar ad-Din Shah Qajar.

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  Derek Walcott of Saint Lucia

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  Somali poet

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  Portrait of Geoffrey Chaucer of England

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  Alfred Lord Tennyson 1809-1892 Poet Laureate lived here

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  Edwin Morgan, first Makar or National Poet for Scotland

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  Joy Harjo, Poet Laureate of the United States

Other websites

• List of poets laureate in the UK