Thursday, August 2, 2007

The Value of the Poet Laureate

I know Charles Simic better from his essays that have appeared in The New York Review, but I was still pleased to read the Reuters report that he was named today as the United States' 15th poet laureate. I was less pleased to read the final paragraph of this report:

Laureates receive a $35,000 annual award with the term lasting one or two years. The Library [of Congress] said it tries to minimize specific duties so laureates can work on their own projects.

If we "do the math," this comes down to less than $3000 per month (or less than $675 per week and slightly more than $15 per hour). Granted, this is more than twice the minimum wage rate in New Hampshire, where Simic lives; but it still seems to be an awfully skimpy amount to merit that label "award!" It is good to read that the Library of Congress "tries to minimize specific duties so laureates can work on their own projects;" but I wonder to what extent this "award," combined with the current income from his poetry books, will allow Simic adequate funds for food, clothing, and the shelter of his home in Strafford, New Hampshire (from which he can work on his own projects)! Whoever fixed the amount of this award is now in the running for this week's Chutzpah of the Week award (which carries no financial stipend)!

No comments: