Charles Simic

Charles Simic has officially been named as the new U.S. Poet-Laureate. He assumes control, as is my understanding, of not only the U.S. Department of Verse, but also its multi-billion dollar war chest and ability to both hire and fire the nations 50 Federal Poets General.

While this is quite an honor, and I myself have been a fan of Mr. Simic for many years, he faces quite the uphill struggle in returning the office of Poet Laureate to its former prestige. Following the cronyism of the Billy Collins administration, failed trickle-down poetics of the Ted Kooser administration, and the "do nothing" Donald Hall administration, popular confidence in the Poet Laureate is at an all time low.

We wish the Pulitzer Prize winning poet all the luck in the world as he attempts to steer the great poetic ship of state back to more prosperous waters.