Kay Ryan, long a poetry "outsider," is now Poet Laureate of the United States. Her poetry deserves to be read widely. Critics have deservedly compared her work with that of Emily Dickinson. Ms. Ryan's poems are lean, mean, spare, stark, and spot on. Not a word is wasted, not an image misplaced.
"Flamingo Watching" is a great place to start with Ms. Ryan's particular poetic muse. If you're like me, you'll read her poems over and again, discovering great depth in her spare, elegant, writing.
In an age enamored of wordiness, we need more writers with Kay Ryan's craft. In fact, I'll stop right now! ( )