It’s come to my attention (via placesforwriters.com) that nominations for Parliamentary Poet Laureate are now open.

Before you run off and nominate yourself, tell us why you (or someone you know) could fill this esteemed position, which would allow you to write poetry for the Senate or the House, post “Poems of the Week” by Irving Layton and do other things (“The Poet is free to determine his or her specific activities within these parameters”).

There have been two PPLs in the past: Pauline Michel is the current one and the inaugural one was George Bowering (who, incidentally, was an English professor at my university, SFU. He also edited my favourite book of baseball short fiction, Taking the Field).

If I feel brave perhaps I’ll make a nomination or two myself. (I’m kind of a poetry neophyte.) Either way, let’s collect them here and we can submit them to the Library of Parliament in a zany publicity stunt on July 31 (<–hey, that’s not a bad idea).

PHOTO: GEORGE BOWERING, POET LAUREATE, 2002-2004. CREDIT: JANET BROOKS