Editor's Note: Poet's Choice, the only poetry column of its kind in mainstream newspapers, was born in 1995 at a boisterous birthday party in Bethesda for my sister, an English professor at Howard University. There was no shortage of literature lovers about, and plenty of vinuous talk about the relevance -- no, indispensability -- of poetry, when one professor tossed out a challenge to Book World: Why not inject a little poetry into the lives of general readers? Why not feature a weekly column by a poet? Like whom? we asked, a bit daunted by the prospect. Like the current Poet Laureate! the professor shot back. Like Robert Hass.

Hass was delighted to accept our invitation. He was followed by the no less celebrated Rita Dove, Edward Hirsch and Robert Pinsky. And now, in this 13th year of the column, I am delighted to announce our new steward -- a writer variously described as "a spitfire" and "an inspiring teacher" -- the incomparable Mary Karr.

Karr is the author of four books of poetry, the most recent of which is "Sinners Welcome." She is the Jesse Truesdale Peck Professor of Literature at Syracuse Univ. and the author of two bestselling memoirs, "The Liars' Club" and "Cherry."

It is a pleasure to welcome her to this page.