It has been a busy week for poetry in the news, and it is nice to see a little-appreciated art form getting some publicity.

There was an inspiring articles in the News Tribune about the poetry community in Tacoma , Washington.  Writers from the area have been busy publishing books and organizing events, and the town even has it's own Poet Laureateposition , now in it's second year.  It's an inspiring article that sets a great example for what communities of writers can achieve in their own town however large or small.

Speaking of Poet Laureates, Britain has elected it's first ever female, Carole Ann Duffy , to the honored position.  In this article from the BBC, social commentator Clive James talks about why poetry is important, why no one cares, and what it's future might be.   William Langley, from the Sunday Telegraph, says however that the position of Poet Laureate maybe isn't something that all poets should strive to. 

Want more poetry from women?  If you are near New Jersey you can enjoy reading by several local female poets at the Poetry in the Park event on May 17th at the Grounds for Sculpture.

Last, but certainly not least,  Tolkein fans will be happy with this week's release of a new book of two previously unpublished poems which were found among his papers.  The book has been put together by his son, Christopher, and the poems are examples of Tolkein's mastery of language and gift for telling (long) stories in the style of myth and fable.  The poems are inspired by Tolkein's fascination with Norse mythology, and are a brilliant example of his high technical standard of writing,  applying modern English language to the traditional meter of the Norse poetry.