Those who say we should dismantle the role of Poet Laureate altogether the trick they miss is that being called this thing with the weight of tradition behind it and with the association of the Royal family does allow you to have conversations and to open doors and wallets for the good of poetry in a way that nothing else would allow.
Poetry is at the centre of my life too emotionally speaking and intellectually speaking – it's just that I'm one of those people who enjoy doing other stuff as well.
