Latest Poetry News

The truth behind Santa Claus, as seen by grown-ups: To tell or not to tell?

Dec. 19, 2024 00:22 AM EST

NEW YORK (AP) — Sure, it's a family story they can chuckle about NOW. But Lisa Highfill wasn't laughing that December day almost 20 years ago. She had just parked the car in the garage when her then-8-year-old son let loose with something he had found out while at school. ...

Research biologist based in Berlin receives $10,000 prize given to unpublished Black poets

Dec. 10, 2024 12:59 PM EST

NEW YORK (AP) — A biologist's debut poetry collection that weaves science with a condemnation of slavery and colonialism has received a $10,000 literary award. The Cave Canem Prize helped launch the career of such acclaimed poets as Natasha Trethewey and Tracy K. Smith. Dr. Brandon...

Japanese poet Shuntaro Tanikawa, master of modern free verse, dies at 92

Nov. 18, 2024 23:07 PM EST

TOKYO (AP) — Shuntaro Tanikawa, who pioneered modern Japanese poetry, poignant but conversational in its divergence from haiku and other traditions, has died. He was 92. Tanikawa, who translated the “Peanuts” comic strip and penned the lyrics for the theme song of the...

Poet Naomi Shihab Nye receives $100,000 lifetime achievement award

Oct. 18, 2024 09:51 AM EDT

NEW YORK (AP) — Naomi Shihab Nye is this year's winner of the Wallace Stevens Award, a $100,000 lifetime achievement honor named for the celebrated 20th century poet. Nye's prize was announced Friday by the Academy of American Poets, which has previously given the award to Louise...

Salman Rushdie, Percival Everett and Miranda July are National Book Award finalists

Oct. 01, 2024 14:08 PM EDT

NEW YORK (AP) — Salman Rushdie's memoir a bout his near-fatal stabbing, “Knife,” and Percival Everett's revisionist historical novel, “James," are among the finalists for the 75th annual National Book Awards. Others nominated include author-filmmaker Miranda July for her explicit novel on...