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Laureate bemoans 'thankless' job | Laureate bemoans 'thankless' job |
(about 9 hours later) | |
Poet Laureate Andrew Motion has said that the job of writing verse for the Royal Family is "thankless" and gave him a case of writer's block. | Poet Laureate Andrew Motion has said that the job of writing verse for the Royal Family is "thankless" and gave him a case of writer's block. |
Motion told the Ealing Arts Festival in London that the Queen "never gives me an opinion on my work for her". | Motion told the Ealing Arts Festival in London that the Queen "never gives me an opinion on my work for her". |
"I won't be including any of that work in my future collections," he said, adding he "did what I had to do". | "I won't be including any of that work in my future collections," he said, adding he "did what I had to do". |
Motion has had the job of writing verse on Royal occasions since 1999, and will hold the post until next year. | Motion has had the job of writing verse on Royal occasions since 1999, and will hold the post until next year. |
'Hiding to nothing' | 'Hiding to nothing' |
His assignments have included composing a poem to mark the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh's diamond wedding anniversary and a modern verse for Prince William's 21st birthday. | His assignments have included composing a poem to mark the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh's diamond wedding anniversary and a modern verse for Prince William's 21st birthday. |
The 55-year-old said the job has been "very, very damaging to my work". Afterwards the Queen stopped me and said 'thank you', but I have no idea if she really liked it Andrew Motion | The 55-year-old said the job has been "very, very damaging to my work". Afterwards the Queen stopped me and said 'thank you', but I have no idea if she really liked it Andrew Motion |
"I dried up completely about five years ago and can't write anything except to commission." | "I dried up completely about five years ago and can't write anything except to commission." |
But he added: "I thought all the poetry had gone, but I feel some of it is still there and may yet return." | But he added: "I thought all the poetry had gone, but I feel some of it is still there and may yet return." |
Speaking about the occasion of the Queen's 60th wedding anniversary when his poem was read by Dame Judi Dench in Westminster Abbey, Motion said: "Afterwards the Queen stopped me and said 'thank you', but I have no idea if she really liked it." | Speaking about the occasion of the Queen's 60th wedding anniversary when his poem was read by Dame Judi Dench in Westminster Abbey, Motion said: "Afterwards the Queen stopped me and said 'thank you', but I have no idea if she really liked it." |
"Writing for the Royals was a hiding to nothing," he added. | "Writing for the Royals was a hiding to nothing," he added. |
Motion initially said his appointment would give him a platform to promote poetry. | Motion initially said his appointment would give him a platform to promote poetry. |
He succeeded the late Ted Hughes to the position, which was introduced in 1668. Previous appointees stayed in the role until their death. | He succeeded the late Ted Hughes to the position, which was introduced in 1668. Previous appointees stayed in the role until their death. |
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