Well, April is waning and so we must say goodbye to Poetry Month for another year, and goodbye to our Poetry Challenge. I for one had fun reading the poetry that I did, and am really glad we got around to doing this.

As the month wraps up, it seems like a good time to highlight the nominees for the Griffin Poetry Prize. A Canadian Prize that honours both Canadian and International poets with an annual $100 000 prize.

The Lost Leader by the late Scottish poet Mick Imlah;Life on Earth by Irish poet Derek Mahon;
Rising, Falling, Hovering by US poet C. D. Wright;

Primitive Mentor by US poet Dean Young.

This year’s Canadian nominees are:

Revolver by Kevin Connolly;

Crabwise to the Hounds by Jeramy Dodds;
The Sentinel by A. F. Moritz.

More information on the prize and the nominees – included excerpted poems – can be found at the Griffin Prize website.

The prize also publishes an anthology each year of the nominees – The Griffin Poetry Prize Anthology is a great place to discover new poets.

And finally, HRM announced over the weekend that Halifax poet spoken word artist, children’s book author and journalist Shauntay Grant will serve as the city’s next Poet Laureate. Congratuations, Shauntay!