London, September 11 (ANI): Poet Laureate Andrew Motion has proclaimed the job of writing verse for the Royal Family "thankless", for it gave him a case of writer's block.
Speaking at the Ealing Arts Festival in London, he revealed that the Queen "never gives me an opinion on my work for her".
"I won't be including any of that work in my future collections," the BBC quoted him as saying.
Motion has been writing verse on Royal occasions since 1999, and will hold the post until next year.
The 55-year-old's works include a poem to mark the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh's diamond wedding anniversary, and a modern verse for Prince William's 21st birthday.
He, however, said that his job had been "very, very damaging to my work".
According to him, the Queen would only say "thank your" for his works, and never hint whether she really liked them.
"I dried up completely about five years ago and can't write anything except to commission," he said.
Motion, however, added: "I thought all the poetry had gone, but I feel some of it is still there and may yet return."
Speaking about the occasion of the Queen's 60th wedding anniversary when his poem was read by Dame Judi Dench in Westminster Abbey, Motion said: "Afterwards the Queen stopped me and said 'thank you', but I have no idea if she really liked it."
"Writing for the Royals was a hiding to nothing," he added.
Initially, Motion was of the view that his appointment would give him a platform to promote poetry.
He succeeded the late Ted Hughes to the position, which was introduced in 1668.
Previous appointees stayed in the role until their death. (ANI)
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