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| Poets advise new Laureate - in verse | Poets advise new Laureate - in verse |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| The new Poet Laureate, Carol Ann Duffy, will represent poetry and its practitioners to the masses. | The new Poet Laureate, Carol Ann Duffy, will represent poetry and its practitioners to the masses. |
| In the spirit of working to commission, we asked a range of poets to give the new laureate some advice in verse form. | In the spirit of working to commission, we asked a range of poets to give the new laureate some advice in verse form. |
| IAN MCMILLAN | IAN MCMILLAN |
| Ian McMillan has been a poet, broadcaster, commentator and programme maker for over 20 years. | Ian McMillan has been a poet, broadcaster, commentator and programme maker for over 20 years. |
| He presents The Verb on Radio 3 and appears on Newsnight Review, Have I Got News for You and the Today programme. | He presents The Verb on Radio 3 and appears on Newsnight Review, Have I Got News for You and the Today programme. |
| He writes comedy and plays as well as verse and is poet in residence for Barnsley FC and Humberside Police's Beat Poet. | He writes comedy and plays as well as verse and is poet in residence for Barnsley FC and Humberside Police's Beat Poet. |
| ---------------------------- | ---------------------------- |
| Advice to the New Poet Laureate | Advice to the New Poet Laureate |
| Think twice before you take on Royal commissions | Think twice before you take on Royal commissions |
| Or they'll be little more than rhyming emissions | Or they'll be little more than rhyming emissions |
| On a birth or a death or a visit to Crewe | On a birth or a death or a visit to Crewe |
| Or whether a Queenly snuffle is the onset of swine flu. | Or whether a Queenly snuffle is the onset of swine flu. |
| Be sparing in the poems you agree to write | Be sparing in the poems you agree to write |
| Or your verse will start to veer from serious to light | Or your verse will start to veer from serious to light |
| And your muse will sit and cower where she previously took flight | And your muse will sit and cower where she previously took flight |
| Because the stanzas that you're penning are just a pile of detritus... | Because the stanzas that you're penning are just a pile of detritus... |
| Return to top | Return to top |
| LEMN SISSAY | LEMN SISSAY |
| Poet and playwright Lemn Sissay is artist in residence at the Southbank Centre. | Poet and playwright Lemn Sissay is artist in residence at the Southbank Centre. |
| Aside from his writing, he is in demand as a speaker and broadcaster, and recently made a documentary about poet and musician Gil Scott Heron for BBC Radio 4. | Aside from his writing, he is in demand as a speaker and broadcaster, and recently made a documentary about poet and musician Gil Scott Heron for BBC Radio 4. |
| Sissay said: "Whether people like it or not a writer's relationship with his or her words is more powerful than any commission, publication, TV show or award. My eight lines is entitled Rest, to try and capture the decisive moment before the writer sleeps on the night of the award." | Sissay said: "Whether people like it or not a writer's relationship with his or her words is more powerful than any commission, publication, TV show or award. My eight lines is entitled Rest, to try and capture the decisive moment before the writer sleeps on the night of the award." |
| ---------------- | ---------------- |
| Rest | Rest |
| I expect you might at some point tonight | I expect you might at some point tonight |
| Beneath the sheets before sleep | Beneath the sheets before sleep |
| Still reeling from the flaying lights, | Still reeling from the flaying lights, |
| Want or more likely seek | Want or more likely seek |
| Rest. There is no manifesto in this | Rest. There is no manifesto in this |
| Nor snake-like list of things to do. | Nor snake-like list of things to do. |
| There is no tomorrow either, | There is no tomorrow either, |
| There's poetry as ever and you. | There's poetry as ever and you. |
| Return to top | Return to top |
| LUKE WRIGHT | LUKE WRIGHT |
| 27-year-old Luke Wright won the 4Talent award and went on to write the poetry for Channel 4's 2009 programme The Seven Ages of Love. | 27-year-old Luke Wright won the 4Talent award and went on to write the poetry for Channel 4's 2009 programme The Seven Ages of Love. |
| He is poet in residence for Radio 4's Saturday Live and he hosts and programmes the poetry tent at the Latitude Festival. | He is poet in residence for Radio 4's Saturday Live and he hosts and programmes the poetry tent at the Latitude Festival. |
| In one of his solo poetry shows, Poet Laureate, he put himself forward for the job. The pitch "Rates negotiable. Has own quill. NB: Won't write about Royal Family" - was surprisingly unsuccessful. | In one of his solo poetry shows, Poet Laureate, he put himself forward for the job. The pitch "Rates negotiable. Has own quill. NB: Won't write about Royal Family" - was surprisingly unsuccessful. |
| He sent us "a verse of standard habbie, a form favoured by Roberts Burns. What a Poet Laureate he would have made." | He sent us "a verse of standard habbie, a form favoured by Roberts Burns. What a Poet Laureate he would have made." |
| ------------------ | ------------------ |
| For poets taking royal laurels | For poets taking royal laurels |
| and painting patrons bright as coral I charge you don't forget your morals for a few bob, take all your skinflint, bitter quarrels | |
| with you to the job | |
| Return to top | Return to top |
| SCROOBIUS PIP | SCROOBIUS PIP |
| Scroobius Pip takes his name from Edward Lear's unfinished poem The Scroobious Pip. He is a performance poet and one half of the electro-hiphop outfit Dans le Sac Vs Scroobius Pip | Scroobius Pip takes his name from Edward Lear's unfinished poem The Scroobious Pip. He is a performance poet and one half of the electro-hiphop outfit Dans le Sac Vs Scroobius Pip |
| They have performed at Glastonbury, Reading and Leeds and Coachella and their 2008 debut album Angles went to number 16 in the UK Indie chart. | They have performed at Glastonbury, Reading and Leeds and Coachella and their 2008 debut album Angles went to number 16 in the UK Indie chart. |
| You can hear Pip's poem to the right and here's a quote as a taster: | You can hear Pip's poem to the right and here's a quote as a taster: |
| Being Poet Laureate gives you absolute carte blanche | Being Poet Laureate gives you absolute carte blanche |
| to lead this brave, great nation on your own nonsensical dance. | to lead this brave, great nation on your own nonsensical dance. |
| Return to top | Return to top |
| ANNELIESE EMMANS DEAN | ANNELIESE EMMANS DEAN |
| Anneliese Emmans Dean worked as a translator, an editor and a phonetician for the Oxford English Dictionary before becoming a poet. | Anneliese Emmans Dean worked as a translator, an editor and a phonetician for the Oxford English Dictionary before becoming a poet. |
| She writes about the environment, including two eco-musicals and runs education projects in schools. | She writes about the environment, including two eco-musicals and runs education projects in schools. |
| She sent us two poems and told us: "When she took office in May 1979, Britain's first woman Prime Minister paraphrased the Prayer of St Francis. I thought I'd do likewise in my advice to Britain's first woman poet laureate." | She sent us two poems and told us: "When she took office in May 1979, Britain's first woman Prime Minister paraphrased the Prayer of St Francis. I thought I'd do likewise in my advice to Britain's first woman poet laureate." |
| -------------------------- | -------------------------- |
| Where there is discord, may you bring euphony | Where there is discord, may you bring euphony |
| Where there is error, may you bring scansion | Where there is error, may you bring scansion |
| Where there is doubt, may you bring rhyme | Where there is doubt, may you bring rhyme |
| And where there are royal weddings | And where there are royal weddings |
| May you bring sonnets of sterling sincerity | May you bring sonnets of sterling sincerity |
| (Or, failing that, limericks.) | (Or, failing that, limericks.) |
| On The Role Of The Next Century's Poet Laureate | On The Role Of The Next Century's Poet Laureate |
| Poetry! | Poetry! |
| Opium of the masses | Opium of the masses |
| Feed their habit | Feed their habit |
| Feed their habit | Feed their habit |
| Poetry | Poetry |
| For the working classes | For the working classes |
| Let 'em have it | Let 'em have it |
| Let 'em have it | Let 'em have it |
| Poetry | Poetry |
| Raise your champagne glasses | Raise your champagne glasses |
| Chitter chat it | Chitter chat it |
| Chitter chat it | Chitter chat it |
| Poetry | Poetry |
| For the lads and lasses | For the lads and lasses |
| Twitter chav it | Twitter chav it |
| Twitter chav it | Twitter chav it |
| Poetry | Poetry |
| With OAP bus passes | With OAP bus passes |
| Zimmer jab it | Zimmer jab it |
| Zimmer jab it | Zimmer jab it |
| Poetry! | Poetry! |
| Opium of the masses | Opium of the masses |
| Live it, gab it | Live it, gab it |
| Give it, fab it | Give it, fab it |
| Pitter-pat it | Pitter-pat it |
| Tit-for-tat it | Tit-for-tat it |
| Skit it, scat it | Skit it, scat it |
| Brit it, bat it! | Brit it, bat it! |
| Return to top | Return to top |
| A F HARROLD | A F HARROLD |
| Performance poet A F Harrold describes himself as "a man for all seasons (except summer, which is a bit hot on the whole)." | Performance poet A F Harrold describes himself as "a man for all seasons (except summer, which is a bit hot on the whole)." |
| He has published four collections, both for adults and children and his work appears in magazines such as Poetry London and The Erotic Review. | |
| He runs the regular Poets' Cafe nights in Reading. | |
| ------------------- | ------------------- |
| On The Occasion Of Being Asked To Write A Poem About The Forthcoming Handover Of Poet Laureate-ship Duties, April 2009 - A Friendly Rubbing Of Shoulders With Tony Harrison's Laureate's Block, 1998 | On The Occasion Of Being Asked To Write A Poem About The Forthcoming Handover Of Poet Laureate-ship Duties, April 2009 - A Friendly Rubbing Of Shoulders With Tony Harrison's Laureate's Block, 1998 |
| To have to write a verse or two about | To have to write a verse or two about |
| each chinless royal marrying his cousin | each chinless royal marrying his cousin |
| was bad enough, but easy, I've no doubt, | was bad enough, but easy, I've no doubt, |
| compared to requested verses by the dozen | compared to requested verses by the dozen |
| one had to write to give a jolly shout, | one had to write to give a jolly shout, |
| to get the entire country up and buzzing | to get the entire country up and buzzing |
| with news of some new bridge that's just been built - | with news of some new bridge that's just been built - |
| that's a topic for the poet in the kilt. | that's a topic for the poet in the kilt. |
| (Not Robbie Burns, or Douglas Dunn I mean, | (Not Robbie Burns, or Douglas Dunn I mean, |
| but the Dundee maestro utterly inept: | but the Dundee maestro utterly inept: |
| McGonagall - a man who dared to dream | McGonagall - a man who dared to dream |
| the job might be his; whose wee heart leapt | the job might be his; whose wee heart leapt |
| every time he heard that Alf was seen | every time he heard that Alf was seen |
| to have a touch of flu. He always kept | to have a touch of flu. He always kept |
| his fingers-crossed, but even come Alf's end, | his fingers-crossed, but even come Alf's end, |
| the request to him Queen Vic didn't send.) | the request to him Queen Vic didn't send.) |
| Now Tony Harrison is quite correct | Now Tony Harrison is quite correct |
| in dismissing that job of pleasing all the nobs - | in dismissing that job of pleasing all the nobs - |
| of being a poet who only stands erect | of being a poet who only stands erect |
| at the sound of the Queen tossing him a bob - | at the sound of the Queen tossing him a bob - |
| like a poet's just a loyal royal subject | like a poet's just a loyal royal subject |
| and not a republican heart and brain and gob | and not a republican heart and brain and gob |
| that has to say the things it needs to say - | that has to say the things it needs to say - |
| aware of the uz and them - the crown and clay. | aware of the uz and them - the crown and clay. |
| And as long as the job was always paid in sherry - | And as long as the job was always paid in sherry - |
| a butt of canary to keep the poet safe - | a butt of canary to keep the poet safe - |
| it wasn't a proper job - you could do it blurry - | it wasn't a proper job - you could do it blurry - |
| treated like a condescended waif - | treated like a condescended waif - |
| 'You've written another poem? Oh, how merry!' | 'You've written another poem? Oh, how merry!' |
| Such unserious attention had to chafe. | Such unserious attention had to chafe. |
| (No wonder William Morris turned it down - | (No wonder William Morris turned it down - |
| better refusenik than Queen Vic's clown.) | better refusenik than Queen Vic's clown.) |
| But when Ted died things began to alter - | But when Ted died things began to alter - |
| the next laureate would not be worked to death - | the next laureate would not be worked to death - |
| a tour of duty, then out before they falter - | a tour of duty, then out before they falter - |
| before their pen and wits run out of breath - | before their pen and wits run out of breath - |
| and no expectations, it's said, no guiding halter | and no expectations, it's said, no guiding halter |
| as to what to write (though best not write Macbeth - | as to what to write (though best not write Macbeth - |
| that was written once four hundred years before - | that was written once four hundred years before - |
| or write it, of course, but pop it in a drawer). | or write it, of course, but pop it in a drawer). |
| Motion has said the only advice he'll give | Motion has said the only advice he'll give |
| is to remind the one who's next they can say 'No' | is to remind the one who's next they can say 'No' |
| when asked to throw their penmanship in with | when asked to throw their penmanship in with |
| some wretched self-congratulatory blow, | some wretched self-congratulatory blow, |
| or for any event that's tainted with the whiff | or for any event that's tainted with the whiff |
| of hypocrisy. Just write the things you know, | of hypocrisy. Just write the things you know, |
| that need to be said - you've got a new soapbox - | that need to be said - you've got a new soapbox - |
| just remember it's not you who's in the stocks. | just remember it's not you who's in the stocks. |
| A Poet Laureate in this brave new century | A Poet Laureate in this brave new century |
| has to have a conscience, has to stand | has to have a conscience, has to stand |
| perhaps they'll write a world that's meant to be, | perhaps they'll write a world that's meant to be, |
| and send the vision out into the land - | and send the vision out into the land - |
| contrast it with the wretched things we tend to see - | contrast it with the wretched things we tend to see - |
| and pin the pulsing heart down by hand - | and pin the pulsing heart down by hand - |
| Poet Laureate should let their guiding light, | Poet Laureate should let their guiding light, |
| as ever, be their conscience wrong or right. | as ever, be their conscience wrong or right. |
| And although the paltry poet's money's paid | And although the paltry poet's money's paid |
| out of some Minister's department's bowl - | out of some Minister's department's bowl - |
| that has, to be frank, always been one way | that has, to be frank, always been one way |
| for the artist to fill his bank manager's hole - | for the artist to fill his bank manager's hole - |
| paid by the government in Artists' Aid - | paid by the government in Artists' Aid - |
| how many down the years have drawn the dole? | how many down the years have drawn the dole? |
| And just because the salary has a source | And just because the salary has a source |
| doesn't force the poet off their hobbyhorse. | doesn't force the poet off their hobbyhorse. |
| Good Tony Harrison won't take that shilling - | Good Tony Harrison won't take that shilling - |
| he sees it as indubitably cursed - | he sees it as indubitably cursed - |
| but someone else will surely be more willing, | but someone else will surely be more willing, |
| and someone, likely, equally well-versed - | and someone, likely, equally well-versed - |
| they'll take that two fold task, begin spilling | they'll take that two fold task, begin spilling |
| ink on paper - soon become immersed | ink on paper - soon become immersed |
| in the thankless job of churning out the words | in the thankless job of churning out the words |
| and ignoring snide editorial turds. | and ignoring snide editorial turds. |
| For it's a losing game no matter how you play it - | For it's a losing game no matter how you play it - |
| too glib and flip and try to make it light, | too glib and flip and try to make it light, |
| the weighty press will hate the way you say it - | the weighty press will hate the way you say it - |
| 'too Betjeman, but without his wit or bite' - | 'too Betjeman, but without his wit or bite' - |
| alternately let a metaphor in the way - it's | alternately let a metaphor in the way - it's |
| 'far too Hughes, all tarot and second-sight - | 'far too Hughes, all tarot and second-sight - |
| rainwater that's got nothing at all to do | rainwater that's got nothing at all to do |
| with Harry's birth - I don't understand, do you?'' | with Harry's birth - I don't understand, do you?'' |
| But the job is what you make it in the end - | But the job is what you make it in the end - |
| the poems written are the smallest part - | the poems written are the smallest part - |
| a Laureate is the public face, the friend | a Laureate is the public face, the friend |
| of poetry - that vast, enticing art - | of poetry - that vast, enticing art - |
| literature - a perfect way to send | literature - a perfect way to send |
| down through time a beating human heart - | down through time a beating human heart - |
| we touch the past in poems, reach ahead - | we touch the past in poems, reach ahead - |
| it's one way to touch the living when we're dead. | it's one way to touch the living when we're dead. |
| So forget the Queen, forget all that guff | So forget the Queen, forget all that guff |
| about royal weddings and sycophantic verses - | about royal weddings and sycophantic verses - |
| we've heard all that before - Tony, enough - | we've heard all that before - Tony, enough - |
| let's get behind a person who rehearses | let's get behind a person who rehearses |
| this art of ours and says it's blazing stuff - | this art of ours and says it's blazing stuff - |
| look at it - you'll see what the universe is - | look at it - you'll see what the universe is - |
| it's people remembering things that have been done - | it's people remembering things that have been done - |
| there are many ways - and poetry is one. | there are many ways - and poetry is one. |
| Return to top | Return to top |
| BRIAN PATTEN | BRIAN PATTEN |
| Brian Patten lit up the Liverpool scene in the 1960's along with Roger McGough and Adrian Henri. | Brian Patten lit up the Liverpool scene in the 1960's along with Roger McGough and Adrian Henri. |
| He has published over 50 works, writing both for adults and children and has been printed in numerous anthologies. | He has published over 50 works, writing both for adults and children and has been printed in numerous anthologies. |
| He offers the new laureate a variation on a thought he has held dear over the years. | He offers the new laureate a variation on a thought he has held dear over the years. |
| ---------------------- | ---------------------- |
| One thing about poetry's eternally true: | One thing about poetry's eternally true: |
| The best reminds us of what we forgot we knew. | The best reminds us of what we forgot we knew. |
| Return to top | Return to top |
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