(Source) While other poet laureates have launched special programs or projects, currently he has no plans to do so. The Library of Congress, which selected him, offers many good programs, he said. He plans to learn more about them and his new position before doing anything.”I’m not going with some sort of idea,” he added, the accent of his native Belgrade, Yugoslavia, still evident. “You’re a consultant; that’s how (the position) has been described to me. …; So I’ll go and see.”
Great! The Calvin Coolidge of poetry.
I’m thinking that aspiring to do as little as you can while in a publicly elected office is a good thing. That’s not the same as doing as much damage as you can do. I’m not talking G.W. Bush. I’m just saying that doing nothing is better than doing damage and better than doing anything – even seemingly good things – with good intentions. But do we want that quality in a poet laureate? I don’t think so.
The poet laureate position is indeed a consultancy. Just check its history. One thing that pops into mind that the poet laureate should be doing is this:
(LOC) During his or her term, the Poet Laureate seeks to raise the national consciousness to a greater appreciation of the reading and writing of poetry.
So if he should be raising the national consciousness then he should be active in doing something, right? That’s my guess. I’m anxious to see what Charles Simic will be active doing while serving as the nation’s poet laureate.
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