The Wisconsin Poetry Series

The Brittingham and Felix Pollak Prizes in Poetry

The Brittingham and Felix Pollak Prizes in Poetry are awarded annually to two book-length poetry manuscripts submitted in a national competition, selected by an outside judge, who will be announced via Submittable no later than July 15. Each prize offers $1,500 plus publication by the University of Wisconsin Press, and three or four additional finalists will also be offered publishing contracts, as part of the Wisconsin Poetry Series. Submissions may be made via Submittable at wicw.submittable.com between July 15 and September 15. For detailed guidelines, please see our submissions page. For additional information about the series and its publisher, visit the University of Wisconsin Press home page. Questions not answered elsewhere on this site, or in the FAQ at creativewriting.wisc.edu/submit, may be directed to Series Editor Sean Bishop and Associate Editor for Translation, Jesse Lee Kercheval.

The Wisconsin Prize for Poetry in Translation

The Wisconsin Prize for Poetry in Translation was founded in 2022 to cater to the readers, poets, and editors who want to read poetry written across the world. It aims to be one small part of breaking down the language barriers that divide us and help make work written in other languages visible to a wider public.

Current & Past Winners

Below, we’ve listed recent judges and winners of the Brittingham and Felix Pollak Prizes, and the Wisconsin Prize for Poetry in Translation. However, we select and publish up to four additional titles each year. For a complete list of titles in the Wisconsin Poetry Series, including all our winners and titles dating back to 1985, please visit uwpress.wisc.edu/Series/W/Wisconsin-Poetry-Series.

2024—Selected by Ronald Wallace & Idra Novey

  • Lindsay Stuart Hill: World of Dew, the Brittingham Prize in Poetry
  • David O’Connell: At Some Point, the Felix Pollak Prize in Poetry
  • Azra Abbas (trans. Daisy Rockwell): Sleep Journeys, the Wisconsin Prize for Poetry in Translation

2023—Selected by Amaud Jamaul Johnson & Geoffrey Brock

  • Caitlin Roach: Surveille, the Brittingham Prize in Poetry
  • Eduardo Martínez-Leyva: Cowboy Park, the Felix Pollak Prize in Poetry
  • Dario Bellezza (trans. Peter Covino): What Sex Is Death?, the Wisconsin Prize for Poetry in Translation

2022—Selected by Eduardo C. Corral & Forrest Gander

  • Tacey M. Atsitty: (At) Wrist, the Brittingham Prize in Poetry
  • Michael Dhyne: Afterlife, the Felix Pollak Prize in Poetry
  • Juan Calzadilla (trans. Katherine M. Hedeen & Olivia Lott): The Roof of the Whale Poems, the Wisconsin Prize for Poetry in Translation

2021—Selected by Carmen Giménez Smith

  • Daniel KhalastchiAmerican Parables, the Brittingham Prize in Poetry
  • Joshua Nguyen: Come Clean, the Felix Pollak Prize in Poetry

2020—Selected by Natasha Trethewey

  • Diane KerrPerigee, the Brittingham Prize in Poetry
  • Carlos Andrés GómezFractures, the Felix Pollak Prize in Poetry

2019—Selected by Carl Phillips

  • Molly SpencerIf the House, the Brittingham Prize in Poetry
  • Sarah KortemeierGanbatte, the Felix Pollak Prize in Poetry

2018—Selected by Aimee Nezhukumatathil

  • D. M. AderibigbeHow the End First Showed, the Brittingham Prize in Poetry
  • Michelle Brittan RosadoWhy Can’t It Be Tenderness, the Felix Pollak Prize in Poetry

2017—Selected by Robert Wrigley

  • Max GarlandThe Word We Used for It, the Brittingham Prize in Poetry
  • Lynn PowellSeason of the Second Thought, the Felix Pollak Prize in Poetry

2016—Selected by Susan Mitchell

  • Nick LantzYou, Beast, the Brittingham Prize in Poetry
  • Charles HoodPartially Excited States, the Felix Pollak Prize in Poetry

2015—Selected by Denise Duhamel

  • Jennifer WhitakerThe Blue Hour, the Brittingham Prize in Poetry
  • Rita Mae ReeseThe Book of Hulga, the Felix Pollak Prize in Poetry

2014—Selected by Lucia Perillo

  • Christina StoddardHive, the Brittingham Prize in Poetry
  • Matthew SiegelBlood Work, the Felix Pollak Prize in Poetry

2013—Selected by Naomi Shihab Nye

  • Joanne DiazMy Favorite Tyrants, the Brittingham Prize in Poetry
  • Angela SorbyThe Sleeve Waves, the Felix Pollak Prize in Poetry

2012—Selected by Terrance Hayes

  • Greg WrennCentaur, the Brittingham Prize in Poetry
  • Craig BlaisAbout Crows, the Felix Pollak Prize in Poetry

2011—Selected by Jean Valentine

  • Jazzy DanzigerDarkroom, the Brittingham Prize in Poetry
  • Mark WagenaarVoodoo Inverso, the Felix Pollak Prize in Poetry

2010—Selected by Cornelius Eady

  • Alison StineWait, the Brittingham Prize in Poetry
  • Jacqueline Jones LaMonLast Seen, the Felix Pollak Prize in Poetry

2009—Selected by Robert Pinsky

  • Jennifer BoydenThe Mouths of Grazing Things, the Brittingham Prize in Poetry
  • Nick LantzThe Lightning that Strikes the Neighbors’ House,
    the Felix Pollak Prize in Poetry

2008—Selected by Marilyn Nelson

  • Angela SorbyBird Skin Coat, the Brittingham Prize in Poetry
  • Mark KraushaarFalling Brick Kills Local Man, the Felix Pollak Prize in Poetry

2007—Selected by David St. John

  • Philip PardiMeditations on Rising and Falling, the Brittingham Prize in Poetry
  • Barbara GoldbergThe Royal Baker’s Daughter, the Felix Pollak Prize in Poetry

2006—Selected by Linda Gregerson

  • Betsy AndrewsNew Jersey, the Brittingham Prize in Poetry
  • Fleda BrownReunion, the Felix Pollak Prize in Poetry

2005—Selected by Billy Collins

  • Susanna ChildressJagged with Love, the Brittingham Prize in Poetry
  • Jennifer Michael HechtFunny, the Felix Pollak Prize in Poetry

2004—Selected by Carl Dennis

  • John BrehmSea of Faith, the Brittingham Prize in Poetry
  • Alan FeldmanA Sail to Great Island, the Felix Pollak Prize in Poetry

2003—Selected by Kelly Cherry

  • Brian TeareThe Room Where I Was Born, the Brittingham Prize in Poetry
  • Bruce SniderThe Year We Studied Women, the Felix Pollak Prize in Poetry

2002—Selected by Edward Hirsch

  • Anna George MeekActs of Contortion, the Brittingham Prize in Poetry
  • Roy JacobsteinRipe, the Felix Pollak Prize in Poetry

2001—Selected by Mark Doty

  • Robin BehnHorizon Note, the Brittingham Prize in Poetry
  • Cathy ColmanBorrowed Dress, the Felix Pollak Prize in Poetry

2000—Selected by Alicia Ostriker

  • Greg RappleyeA Path Between Houses, the Brittingham Prize in Poetry
  • Derick BurlesonEjo, the Felix Pollak Prize in Poetry

1999—Selected by Robert Bly

  • Frank X. GasparA Field Guide to the Heavens, the Brittingham Prize in Poetry
  • Charles Harper WebbLiver, the Felix Pollak Prize in Poetry

1998—Selected by Donald Hall

  • Suzanne PaolaBardo, the Brittingham Prize in Poetry
  • Chana BlochMrs. Dumpty, the Felix Pollak Prize in Poetry

1997—Selected by Rita Dove

  • Olena Kalytiak DavisAnd Her Soul Out of Nothing, the Brittingham Prize in Poetry
  • Betsy ShollDon’t Explain, the Felix Pollak Prize in Poetry

1996—Selected by Philip Levine

  • Juanita BrunkBrief Landing on the Earth’s Surface, the Brittingham Prize in Poetry
  • Dennis TrudellFragments in Us, the Felix Pollak Prize in Poetry

1995—Selected by Carolyn Kizer

  • Lynn PowellOld and New Testaments, the Brittingham Prize in Poetry
  • Bob HicokThe Legend of Light, the Felix Pollak Prize in Poetry

1994—Selected by Henry Taylor

  • Lisa LewisThe Unbeliever, the Brittingham Prize in Poetry
  • David ClewellNow We’re Getting Somewhere, the Felix Pollak Prize in Poetry

1993—Selected by Lisel Mueller

  • Stephanie StricklandThe Red Virgin, the Brittingham Prize in Poetry

1992—Selected by Donald Justice

  • Tony HoaglandSweet Ruin, the Brittingham Prize in Poetry

1991—Selected by Donald Finkel

  • Renée AshleySalt, the Brittingham Prize in Poetry

1990—Selected by Mary Oliver

  • Judith VollmerLevel Green, the Brittingham Prize in Poetry

1989—Selected by Gerald Stern

  • Stefanie MarlisSlow Joy, the Brittingham Prize in Poetry

1988—Selected by Charles Wright

  • Lisa ZeidnerPocket Sundial, the Brittingham Prize in Poetry

1987—Selected by Mona Van Duyn

  • David KirbySaving the Young Men of Vienna, the Brittingham Prize in Poetry

1986—Selected by Maxine Kumin

  • Patricia DoblerTalking to Strangers, the Brittingham Prize in Poetry

1985—Selected by C. K. Williams

  • Jim DanielsPlaces/Everyone, the Brittingham Prize in Poetry

 

Contact Us

Series Editor Sean Bishop
Program in Creative Writing
Department of English
600 N. Park St, H.C. White Rm 6195
University of Wisconsin
Madison, WI 53706