James Laughlin Award

The James Laughlin Award, formerly the Lamont Poetry Prize, is given annually for a poet's second published book; it is the only major poetry award that honors a second book. The award is given by the Academy of American Poets, and is noted as one of the major prizes awarded to younger poets in the United States. It is currently named after James Laughlin, an American poet and editor who founded New Directions Publishing, the distributor of English-translated Siddhartha. In 1959, Harvey Shapiro referred to the award as "roughly, a Pulitzer for bardlings."

Laughlin Award Winners (1996–present) This partial listing is taken from the website of the Academy of American Poets. YearPoetBookJudges2022Annelyse GelmanVexationsSolmaz Sharif, Aracelis Girmay2021 James Cagney Martian Aimee Nezhukumatathil, Mark Bibbins, Ladan Osman 2020 Chet'la Sebree Field Study Rick Barot, Gabrielle Calvocoressi, Honorée Fanonne Jeffers 2019 Aditi Machado Emporium Gillian Conoley, Fady Joudah, Cole Swensen 2018 Geffrey Davis Night Angler Patricia Spears Jones, Craig Santos Perez, Prageeta Sharma 2017 sam sax Bury It Tyehimba Jess, Ruth Ellen Kocher, Jill McDonough 2016 Mary Hickman Rayfish Ellen Bass, Jericho Brown, Carmen Giménez Smith 2015 Kathryn Nuernberger The End of Pink Francisco X. Alarcón, Aimee Nezhukumatathil, D. Nurske 2014 Brian Blanchfield A Several World Lee Ann Brown, Tina Chang, C. S. Giscombe 2013 Jillian Weise The Book of Goodbyes Jeffrey McDaniel, Brenda Shaughnessy, Susan Wheeler 2012 Catherine Barnett The Game of Boxes April Bernard, Cyrus Cassells, Dana Levin (poet) 2011 Anna Moschovakis You and Three Others Are Approaching a Lake Juliana Spahr, Brian Teare, Mónica de la Torre 2010 Michael Dickman Flies Laure-Anne Bosselaar, Major Jackson, Michael Ryan 2009 Jennifer K. SweeneyAcademy of American Poets > Jennifer K. Sweeney Receives the James Laughlin Award How to Live on Bread and Music Robin Becker, Bob Hicok, Afaa M. Weaver 2008 Rusty MorrisonFive Berkeley Authors Win Northern California Book Awards, Berkeley Daily Planet, April 30, 2009 the true keeps calm biding its story Rae Armantrout, Claudia Rankine, Bruce Smith 2007 Brenda Shaughnessy Human Dark with Sugar Peter Gizzi, Matthea Harvey, Caroline Knox 2006 Tracy K. Smith Duende Elizabeth Alexander, Kimiko Hahn, Terrance Hayes 2005 Barbara Jane Reyes Poeta en San Francisco James Longenbach, Susan Stewart, Elizabeth Alexander 2004 Jeff Clark Music and Suicide Elizabeth Alexander, Mary Jo Bang, Susan Stewart 2003 Vijay Seshadri The Long Meadow Mary Jo Bang, Thom Gunn, Campbell McGrath 2002 Karen Volkman Spar Mary Jo Bang, Daniel Hall, Campbell McGrath 2001 Peter Johnson Miracles & Mortifications Daniel Hall, Campbell McGrath, Marilyn Nelson 2000 Liz Waldner A Point Is That Which Has No Part Agha Shahid Ali, Lynn Emanuel, Marilyn Nelson 1999 Tory Dent HIV, Mon Amour Lynn Emanuel, Yusef Komunyakaa, Marilyn Nelson 1998 Sandra Alcosser Except by Nature Lynn Emanuel, Yusef Komunyakaa, David St. John 1997 Tony Hoagland Donkey Gospel Yusef Komunyakaa, Heather McHugh, William Matthews 1996 David Rivard Wise Poison Heather McHugh, William Matthews, David St. John

Lamont Poetry Selections (1975–1995) Year Poet Book Judges 1995 Ralph Angel Neither World Richard Kenney, Heather McHugh, David St. John 1994 Brigit Pegeen Kelly Song Jorie Graham, Richard Kenney, David St. John 1993 Rosanna Warren Stained Glass Amy Clampitt, Jorie Graham, Richard Kenney 1992 Kathryn Stripling Byer Wildwood Flower Lucille Clifton, Jorie Graham, Robert Morgan 1991 Susan Wood Campo Santo Marvin Bell, Lucille Clifton, Robert Morgan 1990 Li-Young Lee The City in Which I Love You Marvin Bell, Sandra McPherson, Robert Morgan 1989 Minnie Bruce Pratt Crime Against Nature Marvin Bell, Alfred Corn, Sandra McPherson 1988 Mary Jo Salter Unfinished Painting Alfred Corn, Sandra McPherson, Mary Oliver 1987 Garrett Hongo The River of Heaven Philip Booth, Alfred Corn, Mary Oliver 1986 Jane Shore The Minute Hand Philip Booth, Louise Glück, Mary Oliver 1985 Cornelius Eady Victims of the Latest Dance Craze Philip Booth, Louise Glück, Charles Simic 1984 Philip Schultz Deep Within the Ravine Louise Glück, Charles Simic, David Wagoner 1983 Sharon OldsSharon Olds Receives Lamont Poetry Award New York Times, September 18, 1983 The Dead and the Living June Jordan, Charles Simic, David Wagoner 1982 Margaret Gibson Long Walks in the Afternoon June Jordan, Richard Shelton, David Wagoner 1981 Carolyn Forché The Country Between Us William Harmon, June Jordan, Richard Shelton 1980 Michael Van Walleghen More Trouble with the Obvious William Harmon, Maxine Kumin, Richard Shelton 1979 Frederick Seidel Sunrise William Harmon, Maxine Kumin 1978 Ai Killing Floor Maxine Kumin, Philip Levine, Charles Wright 1977 Gerald Stern Lucky Life Alan Dugan, Philip Levine, Charles Wright 1976 Larry Levis The Afterlife Alan Dugan, Michael Harper, Philip Levine 1975 Lisel Mueller The Private Life Alan Dugan, John Haines, Michael Harper

Lamont Poetry Selections (1954–1974) For the first 20 years, a poet's first published volume was the annual Lamont Poetry Selection. 1974 John Balaban 1973 Marilyn Hacker 1972 Peter Everwine 1971 Stephen Dobyns 1970 William Harmon 1969 Marvin Bell 1968 Jane Cooper 1967 James Scully 1966 Kenneth O. Hanson 1965 Henri Coulette1964 Adrien Stoutenburg 1963 No award 1962 Edward Field 1961 X. J. Kennedy 1960 Robert Mezey 1959 Donald Justice 1958 Ned O'Gorman 1957 Daniel Berrigan, S. J. 1956 Philip Booth 1955 Donald Hall 1954 Constance Carrier

See also American poetry List of literary awards List of poetry awards List of years in poetry List of years in literature

References