The Poets' Prize is awarded annually for the best book of verse published by a living American poet two years prior to the award year. The $3000 annual prize is donated by a committee of about 20 American poets, who each nominate two books and who also serve as judges. The Nicholas Roerich Museum in New York City hosts the annual awards reception in May, which includes readings by the winner and finalists. The founders of the prize were Robert McDowell, Frederick Morgan, and Louis Simpson. The current co-chairs of the prize committee are Robert Archambeau and Marc Vincenz.
Winners
Each year links to its corresponding "[year] in poetry" article:
- 2018âÂÂDana GioiaâÂÂ99 Poems: New and Selected (Graywolf Press, 2016).
- 2017âÂÂErnest HilbertâÂÂCaligulan (Measure Press, 2015).
- 2016âÂÂErica DawsonâÂÂThe Small Blades Hurt (Measure Press, 2014).
- 2015âÂÂMary Jo SalterâÂÂNothing by Design (Alfred A. Knopf, 2013).
- 2014âÂÂGeorge GreenâÂÂLord Byron's Foot (St. Augustine's Press, 2012).
- 2013âÂÂRobert B. ShawâÂÂAromatics (Pinyon Press, 2011); David WojahnâÂÂWorld Tree (University of Pittsburgh Press, 2011).
- 2012âÂÂNed Balboâ The Trials of Edgar Poe and Other Poems (Story Line Press, 2010).
- 2011âÂÂTony BarnstoneâÂÂTongue of War (BkMk Press, 2009).
- 2010âÂÂJane ShoreâÂÂA Yes-or-No Answer (Houghton Mifflin, 2008).
- 2009âÂÂEllen Bryant VoigtâÂÂMessenger: Selected Poems 1976âÂÂ2006 (Norton, 2007).
- 2008âÂÂA. E. StallingsâÂÂHapax (Triquarterly, 2006).
- 2007âÂÂBrian TurnerâÂÂHere, Bullet (Alice James Books, 2005).
- 2006âÂÂCatherine TufarielloâÂÂKeeping My Name (Texas Tech University Press, 2004).
- 2005âÂÂRobert WrigleyâÂÂLives of the Animals (Penguin, 2003).
- 2004âÂÂX. J. KennedyâÂÂThe Lords of Misrule: Poems 1992âÂÂ2002 (The Johns Hopkins University Press, 2002).
- 2003âÂÂBetty AdcockâÂÂIntervale: New and Selected Poems (Louisiana State University Press, 2001).
- 2002âÂÂRobert MezeyâÂÂCollected Poems, 1952âÂÂ1999 (University of Arkansas Press, 2001).
- 2001âÂÂPhilip BoothâÂÂLifelines: Selected Poems 1950âÂÂ1999 (Viking Penguin, 1999).
- 2000âÂÂWendell BerryâÂÂThe Selected Poems of Wendell Berry (Counterpoint Press, 1998).
- 1999âÂÂMarilyn NelsonâÂÂThe Fields of Praise: New and Selected Poems (Louisiana State University Press, 1997).
- 1998âÂÂLeon StokesburyâÂÂAutumn Rhythm: New and Selected Poems (University of Arkansas Press, 1996); Sydney LeaâÂÂTo the Bone: New and Selected Poems (Illinois University Press, 1996).
- 1996âÂÂJosephine JacobsenâÂÂIn the Crevice of Time (Johns Hopkins University, 1995).
- 1995âÂÂMarilyn HackerâÂÂSelected Poems 1965âÂÂ1990 (Norton, 1994).
- 1994âÂÂJared CarterâÂÂAfter the Rain (Cleveland State University Poetry Center, 1993).
- 1993âÂÂMaxine KuminâÂÂLooking for Luck (W. W. Norton and Co., 1992)
- 1992âÂÂAdrienne RichâÂÂAtlas of the Difficult World (W. W. Norton and Co, 1991); Dana GioiaâÂÂThe Gods of Winter (Graywolf, 1991).
- 1991âÂÂMark JarmanâÂÂThe Black Riviera (Wesleyan University Press, 1990); John HainesâÂÂNew Poems: 1980âÂÂ88 (Story Line Press, 1990).
- 1990âÂÂMiller WilliamsâÂÂLiving on the Surface (Louisiana State University, 1989).
- 1989âÂÂAndrew HudginsâÂÂAfter the Lost War: a Narrative (Houghton-Mifflin, 1988).
- 1988âÂÂJulia RandallâÂÂMoving in Memory (Louisiana State University Press, 1987).
See also
References