FM Fats points out that the New York Times and other news outlets are reporting this morning that Natasha Thethewey will be appointed to a second one-year term as the United States’ Poet Laureate.  According to the Times’ blurb…

In her second year Ms. Trethewey will travel the country for a series of reports exploring societal issues through poetry that are to appear on “The PBS NewsHour.”

Jack points to this AP interview with U.S. Poet Laureate and Decatur resident Natasha Trethewey featured on the AJC’s Access Atlanta site.  Here’s a blurb to get you started…

Natasha Trethewey smashes stereotypes about poets. She’s not stuffy. Or shy. Or aloof.

As U.S. poet laureate, the 46-year-old describes herself as a “cheerleader” for the written word. She chooses the label deliberately, not only because she was head cheerleader at the University of Georgia in the late 1980s (Big hair! Big smile!), but also because, as a younger laureate, she wants to bring a sense of energy to the position.

“I want to ask ordinary people if poetry can mean something to them,” Trethewey told The Associated Press during an interview at Delta State University in Cleveland, Miss.

The New York Times posts tonight that the Library of Congress has named Decatur resident and Emory Professor Natasha Trethewey the 2012-2013 poet laureate of the United States.

The City of Decatur and the AJC Decatur Book Festival are hosting a reception at the gazebo on the square Thursday (tomorrow) from 5pm to 6:30 to celebrate. Come toast Natasha in person. Food and libations supplied by Eddie’s Attic.