1977 in poetry
Nationality words link to articles with information on the nation's poetry or literature.
Events
- January - James Dickey, composes a poem he reads at new United States President Jimmy Carter’s inaugural gala although not at the inauguration itself.
- July 11 - The English magazine Gay News is found guilty of blasphemous libel for publishing a homoerotic poem The Love That Dares to Speak Its Name by James Kirkup in a case brought by Mary Whitehouse's National Viewers and Listeners Association at the Old Bailey in London.
- Poet Sarah Kirsch leaves her native East Germany for the West.
- In Israeli the literary journal Keshet goes defunct, while Itton and Proza are founded.
Works published in English
Australia">Australian literature">Australia
- Robert Adamson Cross The Border
- Jennifer Maiden, Mortal Details, Rigmarole
- Les Murray, Ethnic Radio, Angus & Robertson
- John Tranter, Crying in Early Infancy: 100 Sonnets, Makar Press
Canada">Canadian poetry">Canada
- Earle Birney:
- * The Damnation of Vancouver. Toronto: McClelland & Stewart. A satire on the modern city.
- * Ghost in the Wheels: selected poems. Toronto: McClelland and Stewart.
- Roo Borson, Landfall, American-Canadian
- Leonard Cohen, Death of a Ladies' Man
- Isabella Valancy Crawford, Hugh and Ion, Glenn Clever ed..
- Irving Layton, The Poems of Irving Layton. Eli Mandel ed. Toronto: McClelland and Stewart. Also published, with an introduction by Hugh Kenner, as The Selected Poems of Irving Layton. New York: New Directions, 1977.
- Irving Layton, The Covenant. Toronto: McClelland and Stewart.
- Dorothy Livesay, Right Hand Left Hand. Erin, ON: Porcepic.
- Pat Lowther, A Stone Diary
- Miriam Mandel, Station 14. Edmonton: NeWest Press.
- Charles Sangster, The Angel Guest and Other Poems and Lyrics, edited by Frank M. Tierney
- F. R. Scott, Poems of French Canada. Translated by F. R. Scott. Burnaby, B.C.: Blackfish Press.
- Raymond Souster, Extra Innings. Ottawa. Oberon Press.
- George Woodcock, Anima, or, Swann Grown Old. A Cycle of Poems by George Woodcock, Windsor, Ontario: Black Moss Press, Canada
India">Indian poetry">India, in English">Indian poetry in English">in English
- R. Parthasarathy, Rough Passage, Delhi: Oxford University Press
- Meena Alexander, I Root My Name, Calcutta: Writers Workshop, India.
Ireland">Irish poetry">Ireland
- Samuel Beckett, Collected Poems in English and French, Irish native living in France and published in the United Kingdom
- Eiléan Ní Chuilleanáin: The Second Voyage, including "Deaths and Engines", Oldcastle: The Gallery Press
- Harry Clifton, The Walls of Carthage Oldcastle: The Gallery Press,
- Paul Muldoon, Mules, Northern Ireland poet published in the United Kingdom
- Frank Ormsby, A Store of Candles, including "Passing the Crematorium", Oldcastle: Gallery Press
- Tom Paulin, A State of Justice, Northern Ireland poet published in the United Kingdom
New Zealand">New Zealand literature">New Zealand
- Bill Manhire, How to Take Off Your Clothes at the Picnic
- Lauris Edmond, The Pear Tree: Poems
- R. Ensing, editor, Private Gardens, anthology of New Zealand women poets
- Kendrick Smithyman, Dwarf with a Billiard Cue, Auckland: Auckland University Press and Oxford University Press
- Ian Wedde, Spells for Coming Out, New Zealand
South Africa">South African poetry">South Africa
- Mafika Gwala, Jol'iinkomo
United Kingdom">English poetry">United Kingdom
- Samuel Beckett, Collected Poems in English and French, Irish native living in France and published in the United Kingdom
- Kamau Brathwaite, Mother Poem
- Joseph Brodsky: Poems and Translations, Keele: University of Keele Russian-American
- Donald Davies, To Scorch or Freeze
- Carol Ann Duffy and Adrian Henri, Beauty and the Beast
- Elaine Feinstein:
- * Some Unease and Angels, Hutchinson
- * Selected Poems, University Center, Michigan, Green River Press
- W. S. Graham, Implements in their Places
- Michael Hamburger, Real Estate
- Adrian Henri, City Hedges
- Ted Hughes, Gaudete, derived from an abandoned film scenario, the book has elements of a poetic novel, narrative poem and verse play
- Elizabeth Jennings, Consequently I Rejoice
- Norman MacCaig, Tree of Strings
- Sorley MacLean, pen name of Somhairle MacGill-Eain, Spring Tide and Neap Tide , in Gaelic and English
- Paul Muldoon, Mules, Northern Ireland poet published in the United Kingdom
- Tom Paulin, A State of Justice, Northern Ireland poet published in the United Kingdom
- Kathleen Raine, The Oval Portrait, and Other Poems
- Peter Scupham, The Hinterland
- R. S. Thomas, The Way of It
- Anthony Thwaite, A Portion for Foxes
United States">American poetry">United States
- A. R. Ammons:
- * Highgate Road
- * The Selected Poems: 1951-1977
- * The Snow Poems
- John Ashbery, Houseboat Days
- Ted Berrigan:
- * Clear The Range
- * Nothing For You
- John Berryman, Henry's Fate and Other Poems, 1967-1972, with 45 previously unpublished "Dream Songs"
- Joseph Payne Brennan, The Riddle
- Frank Bidart, The Book of the Body
- Elizabeth Bishop, Geography III, which includes "In the Waiting Room," "The Moose," and the villanelle, "One Art"
- Joseph Brodsky: A Part of Speech Russian-American
- Robert Bly, This Body is Made of Camphor and Gopherwood
- Billy Collins, Pokerface
- Frank Belknap Long, In Mayan Splendor
- Michael S. Harper, Images of Kin, won the Melville-Cane Award from the Poetry Society of America; nominated for the National Book Award
- Robert Lowell, Day by Day
- W. S. Merwin:
- * The Compass Flower, New York: Atheneum
- * Translator, Vertical Poetry, poems by Roberto Juarroz; San Francisco: Kayak
- W. S. Merwin and J. Moussaieff Mason, translators, Sanskrit Love Poetry, New York: Columbia University Press
- Michael Palmer, Without Music
- Carl Rakosi, My Experience in Parnassus
- Charles Reznikoff, Poems 1937-1975
- Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, Prussian Nights, translated into English from the original Russian by Robert Conquest; first written in 1951; first published in 1974
- Gary Soto, The Elements of San Joaquin
Works published in other languages
Denmark">Danish literature">Denmark
- Vita Andersen, Tryghedsnarkomaner
- Jørgen Gustava Brandt, Ophold
- Klaus Høeck:
- * Projekt Perseus, publisher: Gyldendal
- * Ulrike Marie Meinhof, publisher: Gyldendal
- Vagn Lundbye, Digte 1977
- Jess Ornsbo, Digte uden arbejde
- Charlotte Strandgaard, Naesten kun om kaerlighed
French language
Canada">Canadian poetry">Canada, in French
- Denise Boucher and Madeleine Gagnon, Retailles
- Claude Gavreau, Ouvres créatrices complètes
- Michel Leclerc, La Traversée du réel
- Pierre Nepveu, Épisodes, Montréal: l'Hexagone
France">French poetry">France
- Samuel Beckett, Collected Poems in English and French, Irish native living in France and published in the United Kingdom
- Yves Bonnefoy, Rue Traversière
- André du Bouchet, Air
- Alain Delahaye, L'etre perdu
- Philippe Denis, Malgré la bouche
- Roger Giroux, published posthumously :
- * S
- * L'arbre le Temps suivi le Lieu-Je et de Lettre
- Eugene Guilleveic, Du domaine
- Emmanuel Hocquard, Album d'images de la Villa Harris
- Georges Perec, Alphabets
- Jacques Roubaud, Autobiographie chapitre dix
- Alain Veinstein, Recherche des dispositions anciennes
German language
East Germany">German literature">East Germany
- Sarah Kirsch, Rückenwind, love poems
- Paul Günter Krohn, Alle meine Namen
West Germany">German literature">West Germany
- , Jokers Farewell
- Gotthard de Beauclair, Zeit, Überzeit
- Rolf Haufs, Die Geschwindigkeit eines einzigen Tages
- Karl Krowlow, Der Einfachheit halber
- Norbert Mecklenburg, Naturlyrik und Gesellschaft Stuttgart: Klett-Cotta
Hebrew">Hebrew literature">Hebrew
- Nathan Alterman, a posthumous book of poems
- O. Bernstein, a book of poems
- Simon Halkin, a book of the collected poems and works
- Hurvitz, a book of poems
- Shimshon Meltzer, a book of the collected poems and works
- Gabriel Preil, a book of poems
- Dalia Ravikovitch, a book of poems
- Yonatan Ratosh, a book of poems
- Shin Shalom, a book of poems
- Y. Wallach, a book of collected poems
- Meir Wieseltier, a book of poems
- Avot Yeshurun, a book of poems
- Zussman, a posthumous book of poems
India">Indian poetry">India
Oriya">Oriya poetry">Oriya
- Mohan Upendra Thakur, Baji Uthal Murali
- Rajendra Kishore Panda:
- * Satadru Anek, Cuttack: Agradoot
- * Ghunakshara, Cuttack: Cuttack Students' Store
Sindhi">Sindhi poetry">Sindhi
- Hari Daryani, Pala Pala Jo Parlau
- Harumal Isardas Sadarangani, Cikha
- Parsram Rohra, O Nava Halaina Vara
Urdu">Urdu poetry">Urdu
- Mehr Lal Soni Zia Fatehabadi Dhoop Aur Chandni - Collection of poems published by Radha Krishan Sehgal, Bazm-e-Seemab, J 5/21, Rajouri Garden, New Delhi in 1977.
Other languages in India
- K. Satchidanandan, Kavita, ; Malayalam-language
- Nilmani Phookan; Assamese-language:
- * Golapi Jamur Lagna, Guwahati, Assam: Bani Prakash
- * Editor, Kuri Satikar Asomiya Kavita, an anthology of modern Assamese poetry; Guwahati, Assam: Asom Prakashan Parishad
- Siddayya Puranika, Vacanodyana, modern vachana poetry, Kannada-language
Italy">Italian poetry">Italy
- Bartolo Cattafi, Marzo e le sue idi
- Giovanni Guidici, Il male de creditori
- Tommaso Landolfi, Il tradimento
- Eugenio Montale, Tutte le poesie, publisher: Mondadori
- Maria Luisa Spaziani, Transito con catene
Norway">Norwegian literature">Norway
- Hans Børli, Vinden ser aldri pa veviserne
- Jan Magnus Bruheim, Lyrespelaren
- Gunvor Hofmo, Hva fanger natten
- Peter R. Holm, I disse bilder
- Stein Mehren, Det trettende stjernebilde
- Sigmund Skard, Ord mot mørkret
- Helge Vatsend, Livets bok
Portuguese language
Portugal">Portuguese poetry">Portugal
- Ruy de Moura Belo, Despeço-me da terra da alegria
- Herberto Helder, Cobra
- António Ramos Rosa, Boca Incompleta
- Sophia Andresen, O Nome das Coisas
- Fiama Brandão, Homenagem à Literatura
- Liberto Cruz, Distància
- Vitorino Nemésio, Sapateia Açoriana
Brazil">Brazilian literature">Brazil
- Carlos Nejar, Árvore do mundo
- Décio Pignatari
- * Poesia / Pois é / Poesia
- * Comunicacao poética
- Murilo Mendes, a posthumous collection of poems edited by João Cabral de Melo Neto, with a study by José Guilherme Merquior
Russia">Russian poetry">Russia
- Arkadi Kuleshov, a book of poems
- Bella Akhmadulina:
- * Candle
- * Dreams of Georgia
- Alexander Mezhirov, Очертания вещей, Russia, Soviet Union
- Valentin Sorokin, a book of poems
- Stepan Shchipachev, a book of poems
- Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, Prussian Nights, narrative poem, much of it composed in his head when he was in concentration camps
- Yevgeny Yevtushenko, a book of poems
- "esser-known poets who attracted attention":
- * Konstantin Vanshenkin
- * Anatoly Zhigulin
- * Rimma Kazakova
- * Viktor Bokov
- * Maya Borisova
- * Stanslav Zolotsev
Spanish language
Spain">Spanish poetry">Spain
- Francisco Brines, Insistencia en Luzbel
- Matilde Camus, Cancionero de Liébana
- José María Valverde, Ser de palabra
American poetry|Latin America]]
- Mario Benedetti, La casa y el ladrillo, Uruguay
- Antonio Cisneros, el libro de dios y de los húngaros
- Jaime Sabines, Nuevo recuento de poemas
- Efraín Huerta, Circuito interior
- David Huerta, Cuadernos de noviembre
Yiddish">Yiddish literature">Yiddish
- David Hofshteyn, a two-volume selection of poems
- Josl Lerner, Till Dawn Breaks, partly written in a German-Romanian death camp during World War II
- Chaim Maltinsky, My Mother's Resemblance
- Hirsh Osherovitch, Song in a Labyrinth
- Shloyme Roitman, My Israel Shofar
- Efraim Roitman, The Earth Sings
- Motl Saktzier, With a Burned Pencil, about his experiences in Soviet gulags
- M.M. Shaffir, Words of Endearment
- Avrom Sutzkever, Poems from My Diary
- Rajzel Zychlinska, The Sun of November
Other languages
- Stanisław Barańczak, Ja wiem, ze to niesluszne, Paris: Instytut Literacki; Polish
- Anne-Marie Berglund, Luftberusningen, Sweden
- Chen Yi, Selected Poems; China
- Odysseus Elytis, Signalbook ; Greece
- Ndoc Gjetja, Qëndresa ; Albania
- Gozo Yoshimasu, river, Written in Cursive Characters; Japan
- Lars Gustafsson, Sonetter; Sweden
- Per E. Rundquist, Men störst av allt är kärleken till vem; (Sweden
- Piotr Sommer, W krześle; Poland
- Marlene van Niekerk, Sprokkelster; South Africa
- Wen Wu-pin, Battle Songs of Tachai; China
- Yasuo Irisawa, Moon and Other Poems; Japan
Awards and honors
- Nobel Prize in Literature: Vicente Aleixandre
Canada">Canadian poetry">Canada
- 1977 Governor General's Awards
United Kingdom">English poetry">United Kingdom
- Eric Gregory Award: Tony Flynn, Michael Vince, David Cooke, Douglas Marshall, Melissa Murray
- Queen's Gold Medal for Poetry: Norman Nicholson
United States">American poetry">United States
- AML Award for Poetry to Linda Sillitoe for "The Old Philosopher, Letter to a Four-Year-Old Daughter" and Arthur Henry King for "The Field Behind Holly House"
- Bollingen Prize: David Ignatow
- National Book Award for Poetry: Richard Eberhart, Collected Poems, 1930-1976
- Pulitzer Prize for Poetry: James Merrill, Divine Comedies
- Walt Whitman Award: Lauren Shakely, Guilty Bystander
- Fellowship of the Academy of American Poets: Louis Coxe
Births
- April 18 — Ilya Kaminsky, Soviet-born Russian- and English-language poet
- September 25 — Sole, American hip hop artist
- Jenni Fagan, Scottish novelist and poet
Deaths
- January 5 — Artur Adson, 87, Estonian poet and critic
- January 21 — Sandro Penna, 70, Italian
- February 2 — Rashid Hussein, 41, Palestinian Arabic poet in the United States, in fire
- April 7 — Elizabeth Daryush, 96, English poet, daughter of Robert Bridges
- April 11 — Jacques Prévert, 77, French
- September 12 — Robert Lowell, 60, American, from a heart attack
- November 30 — Miloš Crnjanski, 84, Serbian poet and novelist
- December 18 — Louis Untermeyer, 92, American author, poet, anthologist and editor
- December 30 — Katherine C. Biddle, 87, American
- Also — Gitaujali Badruddin, 16, Indian girl poet