List of winners of the James Laughlin Award


The James Laughlin Award, formerly the Lamont Poetry Prize, is given annually for a poet's second published book; it is the only major poetry award that honors a second book. The award is given by the Academy of American Poets, and is noted as one of the major prizes awarded to younger poets in the United States.
In 1959, Harvey Shapiro referred to the award as "roughly, a Pulitzer for bardlings."

Laughlin Award Winners (1996–present)

This partial listing is taken from the website of the Academy of American Poets.
YearPoetBookJudges
2019Aditi MachadoEmporiumGillian Conoley, Fady Joudah, Cole Swensen
2018Geffrey Davis Night Angler Patricia Spears Jones, Craig Santos Perez, Prageeta Sharma
2017sam saxBury ItTyehimba Jess, Ruth Ellen Kocher, Jill McDonough
2016Mary HickmanRayfishEllen Bass, Jericho Brown, Carmen Giménez Smith
2015Kathryn NuernbergerThe End of PinkFrancisco X. Alarcón, Aimee Nezhukumatathil, D. Nurske
2014Brian BlanchfieldA Several WorldLee Ann Brown, Tina Chang, C. S. Giscombe
2013Jillian WeiseThe Book of GoodbyesJeffrey McDaniel, Brenda Shaughnessy, Susan Wheeler
2012Catherine BarnettThe Game of BoxesApril Bernard, Cyrus Cassells, Dana Levin
2011Anna MoschovakisYou and Three Others Are Approaching a LakeJuliana Spahr, Brian Teare, Mónica de la Torre
2010Michael DickmanFliesLaure-Anne Bosselaar, Major Jackson, Michael Ryan
2009Jennifer K. SweeneyHow to Live on Bread and MusicRobin Becker, Bob Hicok, Afaa M. Weaver
2008Rusty Morrisonthe true keeps calm biding its storyRae Armantrout, Claudia Rankine, Bruce Smith
2007Brenda ShaughnessyHuman Dark with SugarPeter Gizzi, Matthea Harvey, Caroline Knox
2006Tracy K. SmithDuendeElizabeth Alexander, Kimiko Hahn, Terrance Hayes
2005Barbara Jane ReyesPoeta en San FranciscoJames Longenbach, Susan Stewart, Elizabeth Alexander
2004Jeff ClarkMusic and SuicideElizabeth Alexander, Mary Jo Bang, Susan Stewart
2003Vijay SeshadriThe Long MeadowMary Jo Bang, Thom Gunn, Campbell McGrath
2002Karen VolkmanSparMary Jo Bang, Daniel Hall, Campbell McGrath
2001Peter JohnsonMiracles & MortificationsDaniel Hall, Campbell McGrath, Marilyn Nelson
2000Liz WaldnerA Point Is That Which Has No PartAgha Shahid Ali, Lynn Emanuel, Marilyn Nelson
1999Tory DentHIV, Mon AmourLynn Emanuel, Yusef Komunyakaa, Marilyn Nelson
1998Sandra AlcosserExcept by NatureLynn Emanuel, Yusef Komunyakaa, David St. John
1997Tony HoaglandDonkey GospelYusef Komunyakaa, Heather McHugh, William Matthews
1996David RivardWise PoisonHeather McHugh, William Matthews, David St. John

Lamont Poetry Selections (1975–1995)

Lamont Poetry Selections (1954–1974)

For the first 20 years, a poet's first published volume was the annual Lamont Poetry Selection.