Poet Laureate?

Yes, the United States has one -- and no, I can never seem to remember who it is, if indeed I knew to begin with.  Thanks to the Poetry Foundation and its Essential American Poets podcast, I now know that we recently got a new one: Kay Ryan.

Ryan's poems are concise, witty, and accessible.  Definitely recommended reading / listening. 

For a news story about how the Library of Congress selected her as Poet Laureate, check here.

To read (and listen) to more of her poems, and learn a bit more about her, check here.