Were you aware that we have a Poet Laureate? Well, we do, and even though poetry doesn't sell so well these days, it's still out there and can provide a calming break from watching 30 Rock and reading blogs. Kay Ryan, our current Poet Laureate, is a writer of condensed, brief poems that take on big ideas, in a style not unlike Emily Dickinson. Buy tickets here to see her tonight at the Herbst, and/or read one of her poems after the jump.