Any thoughts on the choice?

NY Times article

Can't be worse than Billy-bloody-Collins.

Simic was one of the writers who really turned me on to poetry. It doesn't make any difference to me whether he's poet laureate of the USA or not, but if you like quasi-surreal, downbeat stuff with a dark wit, Simic will deliver. He's still among my favourites.

I think it's interestingand fun, and more "sophisticated" than some recent choices (though Kooser is an elegant technician, I do think): a slight sign of a shift away from the hokum we've been getting in recent years...? (Donald Hall doesn't count as hokum, maybe; but - with the proviso that we're not, after all, in the States - did we hear much news of him during his time as Laureate? No...)

On which note, I have to say, Ted Kooser put in a star performance as campaigner for poetry, especially in schools, and also the syndicated press. But then, that's his bag, anyway.

Do we think Simic will be a tireless propagandist for the cause, or how do we think he might use his stint?

I couldn't resist blogging on it.