"In a land of fools the greatest fool will be king."
Raise the flags!
Wake the children! Pour the champagne!
Shout loud enough for the people in the cheap seats to hear!
Minnesota has its first official poet laureate. In 1934, the Poet Laureate League named Margaret Ball Dickson as Minnesota poet laureate but it was not an official position. Now in 2008, Governor Tim Pawlenty, having once disregarded the idea, has made the position official and given the title to Minnesota poet Robert Bly. If you recall, this was the prediction of Shady Dealings. And though Shady Dealings did not endorse Robert Bly as the best candidate, when the announcement was made I fully supported him as Minnesota's choice for poet laureate.
"What?!?" you'll undoubtedly exclaim, "How is it possible that our curmudgeonly Shady Dealings would agree with the naming of Robert Bly as poet laureate?"
Tim Pawlenty did the right thing in giving the position to a nationally noted poet. To give the position to an unknown (or relatively unknown) poet would have been a mistake the first time around. If the word "who?" is on everyone's lips, the position could, quite possibly, easily fall by the wayside. The first appointee should have enough recognition to be able to get the ball rolling. Afterwards the game is more open for someone to come up from the minors. I can only assume this was the governor's mindset but regardless, Governor Tim Pawlenty was correct and wise.
I have failed to mention that Governor Tim Pawlenty is also a fucking idiot. You knew that eventually the other ball was going to drop, didn't you?
The foolishness is not in the idea of naming Robert Bly, the foolishness comes in Bly's attitude toward the appointment:
"They wrote to me and said something about it, and I said that if it doesn't involve any work, I'll do it."
Any nominee saying this, or showing this reaction, should immediately be withdrawn from consideration. There are other noted poets in Minnesota who could have been turned to.
Bly also said in an interview that he had no particular plans for what he would do with the position,
"Just to stay alive, I guess, is about it," he said.
Ladies and Gentlemen, this is our first official poet laureate. Go ahead and put the children back to bed and deflate the balloons.
Ah yes, everyone wants the title without having to do the work. How very aristocratic.
Bly did say he was considering putting together an anthology of poetry but that was considered before the appointment and so had no ties to the job at hand.
I know Governor Pawlenty did not want to put much time or thought into creating the office of Minnesota poet laureate, after all, he is busy these days working to degrade America with a John McCain presidency.
None of this is Mr. Bly's fault. In fact, Shady Dealings is more than appreciative of Mr. Bly's honesty. He very well could have taken the title with a bagful of false promises and pretty words and run with it. He didn't. I admire his honesty in the situation. Still, I would appeal to him, now that he does have the title, to make the most of it and do everything he can to promote and advance Minnesota poetry. If he chooses not to, can we fault him then? No, not really, because he never claimed that he would. The fault all lies with the governor. Yes, on the other hand, Mr. Bly could have turned down the appointment. There will always be that argument. Still...
A hearty "shame on you" to Governor Tim Pawlenty for making an immediate joke of the title of poet laureate!
I would ask one more favor of Mr. Bly, however. He said that he would hold the title of poet laureate for a year or so and then turn it over to someone else. Mr. Bly, when you do decide to hand the title over to another, I beg you to select someone with a zest for the position. Please raise the glass to someone who will enthusiastically do the job of promoting Minnesota poetry. It is an unpaid position and should be one of exceedingly hard work and there are many here who would gladly take those reins firmly. This, Mr. Bly, I, humbly, ask you more than anything. Simply make a considerate and reasoned selection, one our governor is seemingly incapable of.
And now...
In related news, Shady Dealings will reluctantly "sell out". In honor of Minnesota having its first official poet laureate, Shady Dealings "poet laureate" coffee mugs are now available at: www.cafepress.com/shadydealings.
© 2008 by D. Garcia-Wahl.