I’m a fan of Britain’s first female poet laureate Carol Ann Duffy, but who knew she would be setting such a fine example for PoBiznesspeople everywhere?
Poet laureate Carol Ann Duffy has announced a new prize celebrating poetry in all its forms, following her first audience with the Queen today.
Funded by Duffy’s donation of her yearly £5,750 stipend as laureate to the Poetry Society, the prize, known as the Ted Hughes award for new work in poetry, will be awarded annually throughout Duffy’s 10-year term as laureate.
Read the whole story here and a new interview with Duffy here, in which she succinctly defines poetry as “the music of being human.”
Joseph Hutchison, Colorado Poet Laureate 2014-2019, has published 20 collections of poems and edited or co-edited three poetry anthologies. He currently directs two master’s-level programs for University College at the University of Denver: Professional Creative Writing and Arts & Culture Management. Joe lives with his wife, Melody Madonna, in the mountains southwest of Denver, Colorado, the city where he was born. 
Read the interview, and this (the choosing of Carol Ann Duffy as Britain's poet laureate) is exceptional. The time is right. It is also time for me to learn more. I'm familiar with her name but don't recall ever reading one of her poems. Ted Hughes.