Poetry Magazine Prizes
Several prizes are awarded annually for work printed in Poetry during the preceding year. Only poems already published in the magazine are eligible for consideration, and no formal application is necessary. The winners are announced in the December issue. Past prize winners are listed below each prize description.
The Poetry Foundation also administers other awards, grants, and fellowships.
Levinson Prize
The Levinson Prize, presented annually since 1914 through the generosity of the late Salmon O. Levinson and his family, in the amount of $500, is awarded to Ishion Hutchinson for his poem “The Anabasis of Godspeed” from the October 2023 issue.
Bess Hokin Prize
The Bess Hokin Prize, established in 1948 through the generosity of Poetry’s late friend and guarantor Bess Hokin, in the amount of $1,000, is awarded to Tayi Tibble for her poem titled “Lil Mermaidz” in the March 2024 issue.
Frederick Bock Prize
The Frederick Bock Prize, founded in 1981 by friends in memory of the former associate editor of Poetry, in the amount of $500, is awarded to Jackie Sabbagh for her poems “Female CEO” and “Having a Great Time Being Transgender in America Lately” from the June 2024 issue.
J. Howard and Barbara M.J. Wood Prize
The J. Howard and Barbara M.J. Wood Prize, endowed since 1994, in the amount of $5,000, is awarded to Henneh Kyereh Kwaku for his poems “In Praise” and “A short note on writing a joyful poem” in the October 2023 issue.
John Frederick Nims Memorial Prize for Translation
The John Frederick Nims Memorial Prize for Translation, established in 1999 by Bonnie Larkin Nims, trustees of the Poetry Foundation, and friends of the late poet, translator, and editor, in the amount of $500, is awarded to Monika Cassel for her translations from the German of Daniela Danz’s poems, “Come wilderness into our homes” and “The signals come in from the dark” in the December 2023 issue.
Friends of Literature Prize
The Friends of Literature Prize, established in 2002 by the Friends of Literature, in the amount of $500, is awarded to Danielle Vogel for her poem “Drifts” in the March 2024 issue.
Editors Prize for Feature Article
The Editors Prize for Feature Article, established in 2005, in the amount of $1,000, is awarded to two authors this year: Joe Alicea for his essay “‘I Am a Contradiction’: On the Poetry of Salima Rivera” from the March 2024 issue and the late Melvin Dixon for his speech “I’ll Be Somewhere Listening for My Name” from the April 2024 issue.
Editors Prize for Visual Poetry
The Editors Prize for Visual Poetry, established in 2019, in the amount of $1,000, is awarded to Kate Asche for her poem “[Untitled]” in the May 2024 issue.
Congratulations to this year’s winners and many thanks to the judges of this year’s magazine prizes: Laura Da’, LaTasha N. Nevada Diggs, Trace Peterson, Arisa White, and Timothy Yu.
Past Prize Winners
Other Ways We Fund Poetry
The Poetry Foundation offers annual awards that honor and celebrate the accomplishments of poets throughout various stages of their writing careers.
The grants program supports nonprofit organizations throughout the United States, including the territories, that have a core commitment to poetry and the literary arts.
Ruth Lilly and Dorothy Sargent Rosenberg Poetry Fellowships are awarded annually to support exceptional US poets between 21 and 31 years of age.
Poetry does not charge fees to submit and it compensates all contributors for work it publishes.