THE 2012 BINGHAMTON UNIVERSITY MILT KESSLER POETRY BOOK AWARD

Martin Espada for THE TROUBLE BALL

from W.W. Norton

Judge: Ken Ronkowitz

"In The Trouble Ball, Maritin Espada once again uses his clear, powerful poems to give voice to the voiceless, to those who live outside the margins and are so often unrecognized. He cries out against injustice in all its forms."

Poet, essayist, translator, editor, and attorney: Martín Espada has dedicated much of his career to the pursuit of social justice, including fighting for Latino rights and reclaiming the historical record. Espada's critically acclaimed collections of poetry celebrate—and lament—the immigrant and working class experience. The author of some nine collections of poetry, Espada's The Republic of Poetry was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize.  

Kessler Award Finalists for 2012:

(in alphabetical order)

Marvin Bell for Vertigo (Copper Canyon Press)

Wanda Coleman for The Worlds Fall Away (University of Pittsburgh Press)

Toi Derricotte for The Undertaker's Daughter (University of Pittsburgh press)

Janice Gould for Doubters and Dreamers (The University of Arizona Press)

Joan Logghe for The Singing Bowl (University of New Mexico Press)

Kevin Pilkington for The Unemployed Man Who Became A Tree (Black Lawrence Press)