Genre: Poetry

Just the Right Distance

The Time Is Now
4.14.26

In an essay recently published in the Evergreen Review, Eric Dean Wilson writes about discovering the playful use of metaphors in Robert Glück’s 1985 debut novel, Jack the Modernist. While considering what makes one work, Wilson recalls another writer teaching him about metaphor with a metaphor. “A metaphor, the writer said, is like a spark plug,” he says. “At just the right distance, the electrodes cause a spark to arc across the open air, igniting an explosion. The distance between the electrodes matters.” This week compose a poem that cycles through the process of creating an effective metaphor. You might start with the words, “A metaphor is like….” Allow yourself the freedom to play with language that might feel too convoluted as you gradually move toward the right combination to ignite a spark.

Annie Wenstrup and Lena Khalaf Tuffaha

Caption: 

In this event at the University of Arizona Poetry Center, Annie Wenstrup reads from her debut collection, The Museum of Unnatural Histories (Wesleyan University Press, 2025), and Lena Khalaf Tuffaha reads from her latest collection, Something About Living (University of Akron Press, 2024).

Genre: 
Poetry
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Annie Wenstrup
The Museum of Unnatural Histories
Wesleyan University Press
Lena Khalaf Tuffaha
Something About Living
University of Akron Press
University of Arizona Poetry Center
reading
2026

A Celebration of Arab American Heritage and National Poetry Month

Caption: 

In this New York Public Library event celebrating Arab American Heritage Month and National Poetry Month hosted in partnership with the Radius of Arab American Writers, poets Maha Hashwi, Ghinwa Jawhari, Lawrence Joseph, and Kamelya Omayma Youssef read from their work and discuss their writing in a conversation with senior librarian Reuben Gelley Newman.

Genre: 
Poetry
Tags: 
New York Public Library
RAWI
Maha Hashwi
Ghinwa Jawhari
Lawrence Joseph
Kamelya Omayma Youssef
Arab American
National Poetry Month
2026

New Writers Awards

Great Lakes Colleges Association
Entry Fee: 
$0
Deadline: 
May 25, 2026
Three prizes are given annually for first books by a poet, a fiction writer, and a creative nonfiction writer. The winners each receive an all-expenses-paid trip to several of the 13 GLCA colleges, each of which pays an honorarium of $500 to give readings, meet with students, and lead discussions and classes. Books published in 2025 and 2026 are eligible. Faculty members of the colleges will judge. Publishers may submit four copies of one book in each category by May 25. There is no entry fee. Visit the website for complete guidelines.

Chapbook Prize

Two Sylvias Press
Entry Fee: 
$18
Deadline: 
May 31, 2026
A prize of $1,000, publication by Two Sylvias Press, and 20 author copies is given annually for a poetry chapbook. Kim Addonizio will judge. Submit a manuscript of 17 to 24 pages via e-mail with an $18 entry fee by May 31. Visit the website for complete guidelines.

Canadian First Book Prize

Griffin Trust for Excellence in Poetry
Entry Fee: 
$0
Deadline: 
June 19, 2026
A prize of $10,000 Canadian (approximately $7,299) is awarded annually for a debut poetry collection by a living citizen or permanent resident of Canada published during the previous year. The winner is also offered a six-week fellowship with the Civitella Ranieri Foundation in Perugia, Italy. For the 2027 prize, publishers may submit four copies of a book of at least 48 pages in length published between January 1 and June 30 by June 19. The deadline for submitting books published during the second half of the year is December 18. There is no entry fee. Visit the website for the required entry form and complete guidelines.

Akron Poetry Prize

University of Akron Press
Entry Fee: 
$25
Deadline: 
June 15, 2026
A prize of $1,500 and publication by University of Akron Press is given annually for a poetry collection. Brenda Shaughnessy will judge. Using only the online submission system, submit a manuscript of 48 to 90 pages with a $25 entry fee by June 15. Visit the website for complete guidelines.
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book awards

Stanley Kunitz Memorial Prize

American Poetry Review
Entry Fee: 
$15
Deadline: 
May 15, 2026
A prize of $1,000 and publication in American Poetry Review is given annually for a single poem by a poet under the age of 40. The editors will judge. Submit up to three poems totaling no more than three pages with a $15 entry fee, which includes a copy of the prize issue, by May 15. Visit the website for complete guidelines.

Griffin Poetry Prize

Griffin Trust for Excellence in Poetry
Entry Fee: 
$0
Deadline: 
June 19, 2026
A prize of $130,000 Canadian (approximately $94,891) is given annually for a poetry collection written in or translated into English by a living poet or translator from anywhere in the world and published during the previous year. Finalists receive $10,000 Canadian (approximately $7,299) each for their participation in the shortlisted authors event to be held in Toronto in June. Should the prize-winning book be a translation, 60 percent of the prize is awarded to the translator and 40 percent to the poet. For the 2027 prize, publishers may submit four copies of a book of at least 48 pages in length published between January 1 and June 30 by June 19. The deadline to submit books published during the second half of the year is December 18. There is no entry fee. Visit the website for the required entry form and complete guidelines.

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