Kay Ryan: The Exit Interview

Kay Ryan reflects on her time as U.S. poet laureate at the Washington City Paper:

WCP: Has your relationship to poetry changed in any way since becoming laureate?

KR: Well I’ve had very little time to write poetry—it’s become a job. I will be very happy to return to the civilian ranks, and become a civilian poet again. I’ll get more writing done that way.

WCP: Besides writing more poetry, what else do you plan to do when you’re no longer laureate?

KR: I plan to do a lot more bicycle riding. I got a beautiful new bike and am looking forward to riding it more. I also want to do more woolgathering—idle rumination, daydreaming—which is absolutely essential for poetry, and which I can do on the bicycle.