This is the word tightrope. Now imagine

a man, inching across it in the space

between our thoughts. He holds our breath.

There is no word net.

You want him to fall, don’t you?

I guessed as much; he teeters but succeeds.

The word applause is written all over him.

— Carol Ann Duffy, the new poet laureate of Great Britain

Related:

• Carol Ann Duffy becomes poet laureate (guardian.co.uk)
• Britain Picks 1st Female Poet Laureate (nytimes.com)
• Premonitions by Carol Ann Duffy (guardian.co.uk)
• Carol Ann Duffy: Profile of the new Poet Laureate (telegraph.co.uk)
• Carol Ann Duffy becomes first female poet laureate (guardian.co.uk)