Wayne.B wrote:

On Thu, 26 Feb 2004 06:57:49 -0500, Harry Krause
wrote:
"I don't expect you'll hear me writing any poems to the greater
glory of Ronald and Nancy Reagan."

Robert Penn Warren, on being appointed the first U.S. Poet
Laureate, this day in 1986.
===============================

I had a distinct (but apparently incorrect) impression that Robert
Frost had served as Poet Laureate under Kennedy. A little digging
around on Google turned up the following off topic information:

"The Poet Laureate is appointed annually by the Librarian of Congress
and serves from October to May. In making the appointment, the
Librarian consults with former appointees, the current Laureate and
distinguished poetry critics. The position has existed under two
separate titles: from 1937 to 1986 as “Consultant in Poetry to the
Library of Congress” and from 1986 forward as “Poet Laureate
Consultant in Poetry.” The name was changed by an act of Congress in
1985."

So in reality the position in question has existed since 1937 but
under two different names. And Robert Frost did indeed hold the
position under its old name in 1958 and 1959. I seem to recall having
heard him referred to as "the national poet laureate" at Kennedy's
inaugaration however.




I believe you are absolutely correct, regarding your comment about Frost
at the Kennedy inaugural, but I disagree as to "Consultant in Poetry"
having the same meaning as "Poet Laureate," though I grant that Frost
was a giant and deserved the laureate title. Robert Penn Warren, by the
way, held *both* titles.

Robert Penn Warren was both a teacher of mine, and my graduate faculty
advisor. In reality, he didn't have much time for me, but I did get to
meet with him privately a few times.

The Brits have a much longer history of poets laureate, and its list
includes a few that are the absolute giants poetry, including Dryden,
Southey, Wordsworth and Tennyson.

I spent a decent portion of my life frittering away time chasing an M.A.
in English lit, and I loved every minute of it. I think I read
everything Thomas Chatterton wrote, including some of his letters, and
he died very young. I've always been delighted I managed to avoid
following a trade school path in college.