Furious Flower Opens 2019 Poetry Prize

The Furious Flower Poetry Center is accepting submissions for its annual Prize for Emerging Poets. In April 2018, Furious Flower awarded the prize for the first time, and we are even more excited to see interest develop and grow, now with the prize in its second year. This poetry prize recognizes emerging poets, with only those who’ve published no more than one collection of poetry considered. Those who submit to the prize include a selection of three poems for consideration. In addition to the cash prize, the winner is published in the renowned journal Obsidian: Literature & Arts in the African Diaspora.

Heather Treseler, first ever winner of the prize, says that “winning the Furious Flower Emerging Writers Prize--and having a poem selected by Marilyn Nelson--in last year's contest was a tremendous honor.” Treseler’s winning poem “Beaux Arts” examines the artistic relationship between painter John Singer Sargent and the model for many of his paintings, Thomas E. McKeller. Treseler says she also felt “honored to read with Nelson and with Keith Wilson.” Wilson was the 2018 honorable mention for his poem “53rd Street.”

During her reading at the reception for the award in April, Treseler expressed recognition that Furious Flower “shows us how vital a voice poetry might have in our body politic at large as well as at and in our universities.” Since receiving the award, Treseler has also received a fellowship at the Boston Athenaeum, one of the oldest independent libraries in the United States, where she will be engaged in research that will contribute to her poetry. She has also been chosen for Frontier Poetry's Summer Award and has additional poems coming soon in Pleiades, Obsidian, Southern Humanities Review, Salamander, and Alaska Quarterly Review.

In welcoming submissions for the next Poetry Prize for Emerging Writers, Furious Flower is eager to see what great talented and skillful poets will next be recognized for their inspiring and enlightening work.

Read more information here about this year's poetry prize.