In 2008 and 2009, Kay Ryan served as America’s 16th poet laureate, tapped by the Librarian of Congress to be ambassador for American poetry. She has published nine books of poems. and is cherished for her compact, vivid and accessible verse. She is also widely celebrated in the Lesbian community. This profile is based on my interview with her at the Academy of American Poetry in New York City.

Here is a link to the VOA story I did about her and includes audio links to an extended excerpt from our interview and sound files of Ryan reading several of her poems. Also soon to be uploaded: my extended raw interview with Ryan.

See also my profiles of US Poet Laureates Charles Simic and Donald Hall.