Surprised by Laurels

Ange Mlinko has awarded the Poetry Society of America's 2015 William Carlos Williams Award to my book The Open Secret.Anyone who knows me and knows my poetry also knows that I haven't participated much in the prize culture of American poetry. I wanted the work to speak for itself, and for publication to be a meaningful experience given my poetics and values. All of my books have been published by independent presses, and without blurbs (except The Line, which does have blurbs). The WCW Award—given only to books published by independent or university presses, and the money from which supports the press—feels especially apt and lovely. Actually, it feels great!