The country's 16th poet laureate is Kay Ryan. A profile of Ms. Ryan in today's New York Times makes a strong case for seeking out her work, which is described as "highly accessible poetry" that takes what is familiar and transforms it into something deeper.
The story quotes Ms. Ryan as stating that she "so didn't want to be a poet" but ultimately "I couldn't resist." Artists such as this, who are driven to live a life pursuing their one particular talent, are interesting and their work definitely worth checking into further.