On the plus side - Carol Ann Duffy is now poet laureate. I hope she isn't a monarchist (I doubt many lefty lesbian poets are), but if we have to have a state poet, she's a good one - try The World's Wife. Let's just hope that the curse of the job (producing duff doggerel for dull occasions) doesn't befall her.
Elizabeth Barrett Browning was briefly considered in 1850, but no woman has ever been given the job. Apparently the other contenders were Simon Armitage and Roger McGough - both would have been brilliant. Duffy's giving the £6,000 annual pay to the Poetry Society for a prize, but is demanding to be given the large amount of booze traditionally awarded up front. Very wise.
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