NEW YORK (AP) 鈥� An admired and longtime poet whose subjects range from school integration to the memories of Holocaust survivors has won given for 鈥渆xceptional talent.鈥�
Poets & Writers announced Monday that Cyrus Cassells is this year's winner of the Jackson Poetry Prize, which was established in 2007 and has been previously awarded to and Carl Phillips among others. A former Texas poet laureate, Cassells has published 11 books, including 鈥淢ore Than Peace and Cypresses,鈥� 鈥淪oul Make a Path Through Shouting鈥� and the compilation 鈥淓verything in Life is Resurrection.鈥�
鈥淚n a world that is increasingly unstable, the brave compassion of these poems, both profound and hard won, is a rare and precious thing,鈥� the judges' citation reads in part. 鈥淭hey鈥檙e intimate with pain, yes, with betrayal, racism, and cruelty, and they also show us how to recognize and protect the glimmers of hope that survive.鈥�
Poets & Writers is a nonprofit established in 1970 with a mission 鈥渢o foster the professional development of poets and writers, to promote communication throughout the literary community, and to help create an environment in which literature鈥� is widely appreciated.
The Associated Press
