Duffy, the poet/slayer

Carol Ann Duffy, 53, was selected Friday as the British poet laureate, the first woman to hold the job.

She is also the first openly gay poet laureate, and evidently she is taught in schools.

The laureate is expected to write about major royal and state occasions, such as weddings and funerals.  Previous poets who filled the post included Alfred Lord Tennyson, William Wordsworth, Ted Hughes and John Dryden. Her annual salary would be 5,700 pounds. She says she intends to donate it to the Poetry Society.