Selected for the “Best New Poets” anthology for the second time
Poet and scholar Kaveh Akbar has selected my poem, “How a lake flash-froze a herd of horses,” to appear in the Best New Poets 2021 anthology. This will be the second time one of my pieces was selected for this series. In 2017, guest editor Natalie Diaz published “Futures” in the anthology.
This is an incredible honor, especially since I’ve admired Kaveh Akbar’s work for years and own all of his books. I’ve even had the pleasure of seeing him read at Open Books: A Poem Emporium, alongside Paige Lewis.
Open Books was also kind enough to host a reading to celebrate the 2017 anthology. One participant in that reading was Caitlin Roach, who appears in this year’s anthology as well! I’m so honored to appear alongside this brilliant poet again—and alongside so many others whose work I can’t wait to discover.
“How a lake flash-froze a herd of horses” won second place in the Rougarou 2019–2020 Poetry Contest, judged by CAConrad. I’m so thrilled that this little poem is getting some recognition. It was perhaps my most widely rejected poem ever before CAConrad and contest readers pulled it from the slush. I hope that serves as some encouragement for the many poets out there who, like me, can feel really discouraged by the constant rejection that characterizes the life of a poet.
Congratulations to all the other poets selected for this anthology. I can’t wait to read your work!
Readers at the Best New Poets celebration at Open Books, from left: Caitlin Roach, Amanda Turner, Christina Im, Erin L. McCoy, and Sarah Bates.
