Presidential poetry

A piece on the radio last night about US Presidential inaugurations and the poetry they resort to, to give the event some kind of cultural depth.

They interviewed Billy Collins, the American poet who could read the New York phone book aloud all day and have me clamouring for more at the end. His voice makes you realise just how many Americans seem to speak with a metaphorical piece of gum in their mouths, which needs to be chewed vigorously between every phrase: Billy Collins is no masticator. He speaks with a tone that implies wit with every syllable - Garrison Keillor is another. A couple of years ago, I saw Billy Collins read at a poetry event in Aldeburgh and was utterly rapt with his voice. Gorgeous - thank you.

Here he is:

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