Richard Wilbur Award
Year Winner Collection/Work
1998 Robert Daseler Levering Avenue
1999 A. E. Stallings Archaic Smile
2000 Len Krisak Even As We Speak
2001 Rhina Espaillat Rehearsing Absence
2002 A. M. Juster The Secret Language of Women
2003 Thomas Carper Distant Blue
2004 Alfred Nicol Winter Light
2005 Chelsea Rathburn The Shifting Line
2006 Richard Wakefield East of Early Winters
2007 David Stephenson Rhythm and Blues
2008 Deborah Warren Dream with Flowers and Bowl of Fruit
2009 Susan McLean The Best Disguise
2010 Marion Shore Sand Castle
2011 Robert W. Crawford The Empty Chair
2012 William Bell The Picnic in the Rain
2013 Paul Lake The Republic of Virtue
2014 Maryann Corbett Mid Evil
2015 Midge Goldberg Snowman 's Code
2016 Catherine Chandler The Frangible Hour
2017 Adam Tavel Catafalque
Winners
The Richard Wilbur Award is an American poetry award and publishing prize given by University of Evansville in Indiana. It is named in honor of the American poet Richard Wilbur[A] and was established by William Baer, a professor at the University of Evansville. This biennial competition (awarded in even-numbered years) amongst all American poets awards publication of the winning manuscript by the University of Evansville Press and a small monetary prize. Open to all American poets, except previous Wilbur Award winners, the contest is [n]amed in honor of the distinguished American poet Richard Wilbur, and welcomes submissions of unpublished, original poetry collections (public domain or permission-secured translations may comprise up to one-third of the manuscript). . Winning manuscripts will reflect the thoughtful humanity and careful metrical craftsmanship of Richard Wilbur's poetry. The 2019 contest is being judged by Ned Balbo. The award has an entry fee of $25 per manuscript, and the prize is $1000 plus publication. After the retirement of Dr. William Baer in 2015, Professor Rob Griffith became of the director of the competition. The submissions are judged without knowing the identity of the contributors. NPR journalist Michel Martin called it a prestigious award. Journalist Julie Gunter in National Catholic Reporter considered the award to be coveted.