Poetry is one of the purest expressions of linguistic freedom. It is a component of the identity of peoples and it embodies the creative energy of culture, for it can be continuously renewed.
--Irina Bokova, Director-General, UNESCOHow will you celebrate World Poetry Day--Friday, March 21?
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| Rae Armantrout photo by Rosanne Olson |
The Walt Whitman Award brings first-book publication, a cash prize of $5,000, and a one-month residency at the Vermont Studio Center to an American who has never before published a book of poetry. The Academy also purchases thousands of copies of the book for distribution to our members, and promotes the winning poet on Poets.org and in American Poet.
This year's judge is Pulitzer Prize- winning poet Rae Armantrout.
Past winners of the prize include April Bernard, Nicole Cooley, Suji Kwock Kim, Alberto Rios, and Matt Rasmussen, whose 2012 Walt Whitman Award winning manuscript, Black Aperture, is a finalist for this year's National Book Award.
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| Richard Blanco (photo by Nicco Tucci) |
Academy of American Poets staff spoke with Richard Blanco in the days leading up to his delivering a poem at President Obama's Inauguration on January 21, 2013.
