The Mirror's Carol Ann Duffy "honoured" to be named Poet Laureat

In 341- year history, 53-year-old Carol Ann Duffy is the first woman who is formally chosen as national poet. Duffy is also best known for her collection, "The World's Wife." Duffy, who corrects and adapts articles for publishing in the Daily Mirror’s weekly Poetry Corner column, said she felt "very honoured and humbled" by her appointment. She already wrote many columns and she looks forward to write a lot of other columns. Duffy is the next person after Andrew Motion to have his position. Andrew Motion was held the post since 1999. Duffy says she sees the appointment as a knowledge of the value or skills of the great woman poets. For that reason she decided to accept the appointment for the next ten years. Part of the Laureate's job is to write poems to commemorate major state occasions and events involving the Royal Family.

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Wonderful to hear that for the first time in 341 years of history a woman is designated to this function on national level. Carol Ann Duffy is a Scottish poet, playwright and freelance writer who is now holding the position Britain’s poet laureate. A Poet Laureate is a poet officially appointed by a government and is often expected to compose poems for State occasions and other government events. I know that this is not an easy task, maybe that is the reason why men were always appointed , which I do not understand. Women are as smart as men, even smarter. By desiganting a woman it seems like the tradition has now changed, which I experience as good. Duffy has proved us that women are able to do anything they want as long as they work hard for it. I have to say that I am very proud of this lady. She really has got talent otherwise she would not have come this far...

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/top-stories/2009/05/02/the-mirror-s-carol-ann-duffy-honoured-to-be-named-poet-laureate-115875-21324945/