It’s always nice to hear about the possibility of another Poet Laureate in the world, so I was pleased to read that one has been proposed for Minnesota.
What’s eyecatching about this position, though, is the method by which the bill has been proposed: it’s written in verse.
Here’s the beginning of the bill:
House Bill HF-224The Gov’ shall appoint a state poet laureate,
Who shall serve for a four-year term.
Because this appointment will always be great,
There’s no need for the Senate to confirm.
In appointing a poet for the public good,
And to ensure there’s no unjust omission,
The governor shall consider, if he would
Thoughts of the Humanities Commission.Subd. 2. Removal.
The poet will be free to write rhyming lines,
With removal only for cause,
But we trust that the bard will promptly resign,
If the verse reads as badly as laws.
You can read the rest of the bill here.
Via Neil Gaiman’s Blog.