The Norma Farber First Book Award is given by the Poetry Society of America

Poetry Society of America

The Poetry Society of America is a literary organization founded in 1910 by poets, editors, and artists including Witter Bynner. It is the oldest poetry organization in the United States. Past members of the have included such renowned writers as Robert Frost, Langston Hughes, Edna St. Vincent...

 "for a first book of original poetry written by an American and published in either a hard or soft cover in a standard edition during the calendar year".

The award was established by the family and friends of the poet and children's book author Norma Farber

Norma Farber

Norma Holzmann Farber was an American children's book writer and poet. The Poetry Society of America presents the Norma Farber First Book Award; it is presented for a first book of original poetry written by an American.-Life:...

. "Winning books are distributed to PSA members at the Benefactor level or above," according to the PSA. The award comes with a $500 prize.

Winners

Year	Winner	Title	Judge
2010	Scott Coffel Scott Coffel Scott Coffel is an American poet.He was educated at York College, City University of New York, and at State University of New York at Oneonta.He graduated from Iowa Writers Workshop, with an MFA in 1995....	Toucans in the Arctic	Edward Hirsch Edward Hirsch Edward Hirsch is an American poet and critic who wrote a national bestseller about reading poetry. He has published eight books of poems, including The Living Fire: New and Selected Poems , which brings together thirty-five years of work. He is president of the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial...
2009	Richard Deming Richard Deming -Life:He graduated from the University of Buffalo with a Ph.d. He studied with Robert Creeley, Charles Bernstein and Susan Howe. In the past, he has taught at Wesleyan University...	Let’s Not Call It Consequence	Martha Ronk Martha Ronk -Life:She graduated from Wellesley College, and Yale University with a Ph.D. She taught at Colorado University and Otis College of Art and Design, and Naropa University Summer Writing Program...
2008	Catherine Imbriglio Catherine Imbriglio -Life:Catherine was born and lives in Rhode Island.She graduated from Regis College, Boston College, Brown University, M.A. , and Ph.D. 1995...	Parts of the Mass	Thylias Moss Thylias Moss Thylias Moss is an American poet, writer, experimental filmmaker, sound artist and playwright, of African American, Indian, and European heritage, who has published a number of poetry collections, children’s books, essays, and multimedia work she calls poams, products of acts of making, related to...
2007	Kate Colby Kate Colby Kate Colby is an American poet. She grew up in Massachusetts. She graduated from Wesleyan University, and with an MFA from California College of the Arts. In 1997, she moved to San Francisco. She worked for several years at Institute for Unpopular Culture as a volunteer...	Fruitlands	Rosemarie Waldrop
2005	Karen An-hwei Lee Karen An-hwei Lee -Life:Born in 1973 and raised in Massachusetts, Lee is a Chinese American poet, translator, and critic. She earned an M.F.A. in creative writing from Brown University and a Ph.D. in literature from the University of California, Berkeley...	In Medias Res	Cole Swensen Cole Swensen Cole Swensen is an American poet, translator, editor, copywriter, and professor. Swensen was awarded a 2006 Guggenheim Fellowship and is the author of more than ten poetry collections and as many translations of works from the French. She received her B.A. and M.A. from San Francisco State...
2004	Brenda Coultas Brenda Coultas -Life:She was raised in Indiana, often working odd jobs such as welding.She graduated from Naropa University, studying with Anne Waldman and Allen Ginsberg. Coultas also taught at Naropa University.She moved to New York City in 1994...	A Handmade Museum	Lyn Hejinian Lyn Hejinian Lyn Hejinian is an American poet, essayist, translator and publisher. She is often associated with the Language poets and is well known for her landmark work My Life , as well as her book of essays, The Language of Inquiry .-Life:Hejinian was born in the San...
2003	Sean Singer Sean Singer Sean Singer is an American poet. His first book, Discography, won the 2001 Yale Series of Younger Poets Prize, selected by W.S. Merwin. His poems have been published in various journals, including Salmagundi, Tin House, and Pleiades, and Callaloo...	Discography	Allen Grossman Allen Grossman Allen Grossman is a noted American poet, critic and professor.-Biography:Born in Minneapolis, Minnesota in 1932, Grossman was educated at Harvard University, graduating with an MA in 1956 after several interruptions. He went on to receive a PhD from Brandeis University in 1960, where he remained a...
2002	Jennifer Michael Hecht Jennifer Michael Hecht Jennifer Michael Hecht is a poet, historian, philosopher, and author.Hecht's scholarly articles have been published in many journals and magazines, and her poetry has appeared in The New Yorker, The New Republic, and Poetry Magazine, among others...	The Next Ancient World	David Lehman David Lehman David Lehman is a poet and the series editor for The Best American Poetry series. He teaches at The New School in New York City.-Career:...
2001	V. Penelope Pelizzon V. Penelope Pelizzon -Life:She graduated from University of Massachusetts Amherst, summa cum laude, University of California, Irvine, and University of Missouri in 1998....	Nostos	August Kleinzahler August Kleinzahler -Life and career:Until he was 11, he went to school in Fort Lee, New Jersey, where he grew up. He then commuted to the Horace Mann School in the Bronx, graduating in 1967. He wrote poetry from this time, inspired by Keats and Kenneth Rexroth translations, among other works...
2000	Lisa Lubasch Lisa Lubasch -Life:Selections from How Many More of Them Are You? were translated into French in 2002, and appear as a chapbook in Un bureau sur l'Atlantique's Format Américain series.She is one of the editors of Double Change, a French-American poetry web journal....	How Many More of Them Are You?	John Yau John Yau John Yau is an American poet and critic who lives in New York City. He received his B.A. from Bard College in 1972 and his M.F.A. from Brooklyn College in 1978...
1999	Hettie Jones Hettie Jones Hettie Jones is best known as the former wife of Amiri Baraka, known as LeRoi Jones at the time of their marriage, but is also a writer herself. They have two children, Kellie and Lisa Jones....	Drive: Poems	Naomi Shihab Nye Naomi Shihab Nye Naomi Shihab Nye is a poet, songwriter, and novelist. She was born to a Palestinian father and American mother. Although she regards herself as a "wandering poet", she refers to San Antonio as her home.-Career:...
1998	Rebecca Reynolds Rebecca Reynolds -Life:She grew up inWahsington D. C. She graduated from Vassar College, Rutgers University , and the University of Michigan . She taught at Baylor University...	Daughter of the Hangnail	Ann Lauterbach Ann Lauterbach Ann Lauterbach is an American poet, essayist, and professor. Her most recent poetry collection is Or to Begin Again , a 2009 National Book Award finalist. Her other honors include fellowships from the Guggenheim Foundation, the Ingram Merrill Foundation, the John D. and Catherine C. MacArthur...
1997	Susan Yuzna Susan Yuzna -Life:She has a B.A. in English from the University of Iowa, and an M.F.A. in creative writing from the University of Montana.She has been resident at several artist colonies, including Yaddo, and MacDowell....	Her Slender Dress	Michael Weaver Afaa M. Weaver Afaa Michael Weaver formerly known as Michael S. Weaver, is an American poet, short story writer and editor. He is author of numerous poetry collections and his honors include a Fulbright Scholarship and fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts and Pew Foundation...
1995	Barbara Hamby Barbara Hamby -Life:She was born in New Orleans and raised in Hawaii. Her poems have been printed in numerous publications and her first book of poetry, Delirium , received literary recognition...	Delirium
1994	Sophie Cabot Black Sophie Cabot Black Sophie Cabot Black is an American prize-winning poet who has taught creative writing at Columbia University and elsewhere.-Early life:...	The Misunderstanding of Nature
1993	Susan Wheeler Susan Wheeler Susan Wheeler is an educator and award-winning poet whose poems have frequently appeared in anthologies. She currently teaches creative writing at Princeton University.Her published works include:...	Bag O' Diamonds	James Tate James Tate James Tate may refer to:* James Tate , Headmaster of Richmond School 1796–1833)* James "Honest Dick" Tate , State Treasurer of Kentucky...
1992	Timothy Liu Timothy Liu Timothy Liu is an American poet and the author of such books as Bending the Mind Around the Dream's Blown Fuse, For Dust Thou Art, Of Thee I Sing, Hard Evidence, Say Goodnight, Burnt Offerings and Vox Angelica. He is also the editor of Word of Mouth: An Anthology of Gay American Poetry...	Vox Angelica	Carolyn Forche Carolyn Forché Carolyn Forché is an American poet, editor, translator, and human rights advocate.-Life:Forché was born in Detroit, Michigan, on April 28, 1950, to Michael Joseph and Louise Nada Blackford Sidlosky. Forché earned a B.A...
1991	Karl Kirchwey Karl Kirchwey Karl Kirchwey is a prize–winning American poet who has lived in both Europe and the United States and whose work is strongly influenced by the Greek and Roman past. He often looks to the classical world for inspiration with themes which have included loss, loneliness, nostalgia and modern...	A Wandering Island

See also

• American poetry
• List of poetry awards
• List of literature awards
• List of years in poetry
• List of years in literature

External links

• Poetry Society of America Awards Guidelines page