The Opposite of Small Talk

In a distinctive turn of phrase, Jarita Davis, the judge of this year's Frost Award, described her choices as "the opposite of small talk."



As if to prove her point, Davis read several poems from her new manuscript, continued evidence of the relationship of comtemporary poets and their poetry to Frost. --ms

Announcement of 2009 Robert Frost Award

Lawrence, MA, October 24, 2009. For immediate release,

The 2009 winning poem, chosen by poet Jarita Davis, is:

"Crossing to Fox Island" by Gregory Loselle.

Click here for text of the winning poem, and click here for background on the winning poem.Loselle, a high school Language Arts and Art History teacher in southeastern Michigan, plans to use his $1000 cash award to pay a visit to the Vermeer exhibition in New York City.

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The finalist poems, in the order provided by Jarita Davis, are:

1. "Swan" by Christiane Jacox of Ridgefield, CT.
   
   


2. "Processional" by Joan Larkin of Brooklyn, NY.
   Click here for text of Joan Larkin's finalist poem, and click here for background on the poem.
   


3. "Walking the Dog on the Milky Way" by Gregory Loselle of Southgate, MI.
   
   


4. "Journey withMan and Crows" by Raphael Kosek of Hopewell Jct, NY.
   Click here for text of on Raphael Kosek's finalist poem,
   and click here for background on the poem.
   


5. "Route 1 North, Woolwich, ME" by Tess Taylor of Brooklyn, NY.
   Click here for text of Tess Taylor's finalist poem, and click here for background on the poem.
   


6. "Spring Awakening" by Lollie Butler of Tuscon, AZ.
   Click here for text of Lollie Butler's finalist poem, and click here for background on this finalist poem.
   


7. "Carved in Stone" by Gayle Reed Carroll of Pittsburgh, PA.
   Click here for text of Gayle Reed Carroll's finalist poem, and click here for background on the poem.
   


8. "Interior with Calder Mobile" by Nadine Sabra Meyer of Gettysburg, PA.
   
   


9. "What Makes Things Move" by Maureen Morehead of Louisville, KY.