The Forward Poetry Prize ceremony is taking place tonight, perhaps the results are already known. However, they’ve not been published yet, which allows me to indulge in a little last-minute speculation. It is speculation, as I haven’t read most of the books and poems – although I’ve read at least a few pages from all of them. Here’s the list, followed by my guesses:
Best collection:
Sujata Bhatt - Pure Lizard
Jamie McKendrick - Crocodiles and Obelisks
Mick Imlah - The Lost Leader
Catherine Smith - Lip
Jane Griffiths - Another Country
Jen Hadfield - Nigh-No-Place
Probable winner – Mick Imlah
Dark Horse – Jen Hadfield
Best first collection:
Simon Barraclough - Los Alamos Mon Amour
Andrew Forster - Fear of Thunder
Frances Leviston - Public Dream
Allison McVety - The Night Trotsky Came to Stay
Stephanie Norgate - Hidden River
Kathryn Simmonds - Sunday at the Skin Launderette
Probable Winner – Frances Leviston
Dark Horse – Simon Barraclough
Best single poem:
Seamus Heaney - Cutaways
Christopher Buehlman - Wanton
Catherine Ormell - Campaign Desk, December 1812
Don Paterson - Love Poem for Natalie 'Tusja' Beridze
Kate Rhodes - Wells-next-the-Sea
Tim Turnbull - Ode on a Grayson Perry Urn
Probable Winner – Seamus Heaney
Dark Horse – Tim Turnbull
