Poet laureate facts for kids

A depiction of Torquato Tasso from a German encyclopedia, 1905. Note the laurel crown.

A Poet Laureate is a special poet chosen by a country's government. This poet writes poems for important national events. These events might include a royal coronation or a big celebration. It's like being the official poet for the whole country!

What is a Poet Laureate?

A Poet Laureate is a poet who gets an official job from their country's government. Their main role is to write poems for special moments. These moments can be happy celebrations or times of national importance. The poems often reflect the feelings and history of the nation.

History of the Role

The idea of a Poet Laureate has been around for a long time. In England, the first official Poet Laureate was Ben Jonson. He was appointed in 1619. This made the role a formal position within the government. Over the years, many famous poets have held this title.

Poets Laureate Around the World

The United Kingdom has a well-known Poet Laureate. From 2009 to 2019, Carol Ann Duffy held this important role. She was the first woman to become the British Poet Laureate. Other countries also have their own official poets. You can find Poets Laureate in places like the United States, Canada, and New Zealand. Each country's Poet Laureate helps celebrate its unique culture through poetry.

Images for kids

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  Toronto's Poet Laureate George Elliott Clarke who later became Parliamentary Poet Laureate of Canada

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  Tsegaye Gabre-Medhin of Ethopia

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  Mohammad-Taqi Bahar poet laureate of Mozaffar ad-Din Shah Qajar.

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  Derek Walcott of Saint Lucia

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  Hadrawi of Somalia

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  Portrait of Geoffrey Chaucer of England

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  Alfred Lord Tennyson 1908-1892 Poet Laureate lived here

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  Edwin Morgan, first Makar or National Poet for Scotland

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  Joy Harjo, Poet Laureate of the United States

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  Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden, Poet Laureate Tracy K. Smith, and National Youth Poet Laureate Amanda Gorman.

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  Juan Felipe Herrera, Poet Laureate of California and later of the United States

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  Luis Rodriguez, Los Angeles Poet Laureate)

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  Genea Brice, Jeremy Snyder, and D.L. Lang, poets laureate of Vallejo.

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  John Denver was named poet laureate of Colorado in 1974

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  Amiri Baraka, the second and final poet laureate of New Jersey

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  Kealoha Poet laureate of Hawaii

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  John Prine posthumously received the title of honorary poet laureate of Illinois

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  Frank X Walker, poet laureate of Kentucky

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  Patrick Donnelly, Poet Laureate of Northampton, MA.

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  Robert Bly was the first poet laureate of Minnesota

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  Alicia Ostriker, New York State Poet Laureate

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  Nathan Brown, Poet Laureate of Oklahoma, 2013

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  Yolanda Wisher Poet Laureate of Philadelphia

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  Jack Elliott Myers was poet laureate of Texas in 2003

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  Ella Higginson, first Poet Laureate of Washington

See also

In Spanish: Poeta laureado para niños