I might take intriguing bets. Top candidates from my reading of the context:
Jorie Graham / 5-1 / they need a woman, but too many laureates have hailed from (New) England
Mary Karr / 15-1 / recently took over poetry column in Wash Post previously penned by pls
Martin Espada / 20-1 / a Latino doctor, but again (New) England
Julia Alvarez / 25-1 / alas NE again, & best known for her fiction / I like her
Frank Bidart / 30-1 / NE, was clearly being groomed for the position but . . .
Dana Gioia / 50-1 / a step down, but decision made before the 2008 election, so . . .
Katia Kapovich / 100-1 / the decider is a Soviet history scholar and Simic benefitted, so . . .
Barry Alpert
On Tue, 20 May 2008 11:42:55 -0400, TheOldMole <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>I don't suppose any of the major bookmakers are laying odds...?
>>
>>
>> Fifteen candidates will be selected by Gioia, Simic, and previous
>> consultants. The Librarian of
>> Congress, James Billington, will make his final selection from that
>> list. Place your bets now. I'm
>> guessing Jorie Graham, but I was wrong about Frank Bidart last year.
>>
>> Barry Alpert
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