The Griffin Poetry Prize

The Griffin Poetry Prize Announces the 2007 Canadian and International Shortlist
An Unprecedented 483 Eligible Books Submitted

Scott Griffin, founder of The Griffin Trust For Excellence In Poetry and David Young, trustee, announced the Canadian and International shortlist for this year’s prize. The C$100,000 Griffin Poetry Prize is one of the most lucrative poetry prizes in the world – exemplifying the international spirit of the form. The prize is awarded annually for the two best books of poetry, including translations, published in English in the previous year.

Judges John Burnside, Charles Simic and Karen Solie read 483 books of poetry, including 18 translations, received from 15 countries around the globe. The seven finalists – three Canadian and four International – will be invited to read in Toronto at the MacMillan Theatre on Tuesday, June 5, 2007. The winners, who each receive C$50,000, will be announced on Wednesday, June 6, 2007 at the seventh annual Griffin Poetry Prize Awards Evening.

Canadian Shortlist

Airstream Land Yacht
Ken Babstock
House of Anansi Press

Strike/Slip
Don McKay
McClelland & Stewart

Ontological Necessities
Priscila Uppal
Exile Editions

International Shortlist

Tramp in Flames
Paul Farley
Picador

Salvation Blues
Rodney Jones
Houghton Mifflin

Ooga-Booga
Frederick Seidel
Farrar, Straus and Giroux

Scar Tissue
Charles Wright
Farrar, Straus and Giroux

The judges for the 2007 Griffin Poetry Prize are the distinguished poets John Burnside (Dunfermline, Scotland), Charles Simic (New Hampshire, USA) and Karen Solie (Toronto, Canada).

Each year, the Griffin Poetry Prize publishes an anthology, a selection of poems from the shortlisted books, published by House of Anansi Press. Royalties from the Griffin Poetry Prize Anthology are donated to UNESCO's World Poetry Day.

The Griffin Poetry Prize was launched in September, 2000 by trustees Margaret Atwood, Carolyn Forché, Scott Griffin, Robert Hass, Michael Ondaatje, Robin Robertson and David Young. Each year, the trustees (with the exception of Scott Griffin) are responsible for selecting the judges for the prize.

The Griffin Trust For Excellence In Poetry was created to serve and encourage poetry written in English anywhere in the world. Eligible collections of poetry, including translations, must be submitted by publishers no later than December 31 in the calendar year of their publication.

Tickets for the Readings to be held on Tuesday, June 5, 2007 at the MacMillan Theatre are available at www.griffinpoetryprize.com/tickets or by calling 905-565-5993.