Poets Laureate

United States

The Poet Laureate is appointed annually by the Librarian of Congress and serves from October to May.

	Ted Kooser Appointed in 2004.
	Louise Glück. The Wild Iris and others Glück won the Pulitzer Prize for poetry in 1993, and served as  U.S. Poet Laureate from 2003-2004.   Rather dark, yet accessible, her poems are lauded for their dignity and clarity.
	Billy Collins. Sailing Alone Around the Room and others Winner of numerous awards, he served from 2001-2003.
	Stanley Kunitz. Collected Poems and others Having previously served as Chair of Poetry (precursor to the Poet Laureate) at the Library of Congress from 1974-1976, he served as Poet Laureate from 2000-2001.
	Robert Pinsky. Jersey Rain and others He was the first Poet Laureate to serve three consecutive terms from 1997-2000.
	Robert Hass Served from 1995-1996.
	Rita Dove. Mother Love and others Appointed as the first African American Poet Laureate, she served from 1993-1995, Rita Dove has won numerous literary prizes.
	Mona Van Duyn. Near Changes and others Van Duyn won the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry in 1991.  She served as Poet Laureate from 1992-1993.
	Joseph Brodsky. So Forth and others Served from 1991-1992.
	Mark Strand. Blizzard of One and others Strand served as Poet Laureat from 1990-1991.  He won the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry in 1999.
	Howard Nemerov. The Collected Poems and A Howard Nemerov Reader Served from 1988-1990.
	Richard Wilbur. New and Collected Poems and others Winner of several literary awards including the Pulitzer Prize, he served as Poet Laureate from 1987-1988.
	Robert Penn Warren. The Collected Poems and others The author of the classic novel All the Kings Men, he has also won awards for his poetry and served as Poet Laureate from 1986-1987.