Morse Poetry Prize Explained

The Samuel French Morse Poetry Prize, in honor of Samuel French Morse, is a literary award given to an American author's first or second book of poetry.

The annual prize was established in 1983 and sponsored by Northeastern University. Once selected by a recognized poet, the awarded poet received $1000, and the work received publication by Northeastern University Press, and distribution through the University Press of New England. Prize-winning books were published with a striped cover design, characteristic of the Morse Poetry Prize.[1]

The award was suspended in 2009, due to difficulties with financial sustainability.[2]

Winners

Lisa Gluskin Stonestreet, Tulips, Water, Ash, Judge: Jean Valentine

Dana Roeser, In the Truth Room

Virginia Chase Sutton, What Brings You to Del Amo

Roy Jacobstein, A Form of Optimism

Annie Boutelle, Nest of Thistles

Dana Roeser, Beautiful Motion: Poems

Chris Forhan, The Actual Moon, the Actual Stars

Catherine Sasanov, All the Blood Tethers

Ted Genoways, Bullroarer: A Sequence

Jennifer Atkinson, The Drowned City

James Haug, Walking Liberty

Jeffrey Greene, American Spirituals

Charles Harper Webb, Reading the Water

Michelle Boisseau, Understory

Allison Funk, Living at the Epicenter

David Moolten, Plums and Ashes

Don Boes, The Eighth Continent

Carl Phillips, In the Blood

George Mills, The House Sails Out of Sight of Home

J. Allyn Rosser, Bright Moves

Lucia Perillo, Dangerous Life

Frank Gaspar, The Holyoke

Sue Ellen Thompson, This Body of Silk

William Carpenter, Rain

Susan Donnelly, Eve Names the Animals, Judge: Anthony Hecht

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Samuel French Morse Poetry Prize Is Suspended. Poets & Writers Magazine. April 16, 2009. September 16, 2014.
  2. Web site: Northeastern suspends Morse poetry prize. Boston Globe. April 17, 2009. September 16, 2014.