Five young poets, including a National Book Award winner, have each received grants worth just over $25,000.
Poetry Foundation and Poetry magazine announced Tuesday that the Lilly Rosenberg Fellowships were given to Franny Choi, Jane Huffman, José Olivarez, Justin Phillip Reed and Michael Wasson. The 30-year-old program awards money to poets age 21 to 31. The grants are intended to provide time for writing and reading poetry.
This year’s winners range from the New York-based son of Mexican immigrants (Olivarez) to a Nimi?ipuu from the Nez Perce Reservation in Idaho (Wasson). Reed is a National Book Award winner for his collection “Indecency,” and Huffman edits the literary journal Guesthouse. Choi teaches poetry through the education program Project VOICE.
Previous fellows include Katherine Larson, Roger Reeves and Christian Wiman.