Kooser said he has always been dedicated to writing poetry that people can understand. "What I think poetry can do is give people fresh ways to look at the world," Kooser said. "I attempt in my poems to take ordinary things and look at them in a new light."

"Great Plains poet Ted Kooser of Nebraska will be the next poet laureate of the United States," as reported by the AP on 8-11-2004 succeeding Louise Gluck.

Readers can see for themselves but in essence, here is the kernal of what he had to say

Kooser said he has always been dedicated to writing poetry that people can understand.

"What I think poetry can do is give people fresh ways to look at the world," Kooser said. "I attempt in my poems to take ordinary things and look at them in a new light."