Dave Smith
2002 Poetry Panel Chair

L to R: Bob Shacochis, Fiction Panel Chair; Han Nolan, Young People's Literature Panel Chair; Dave Smith, Poetry Panel Chair; Christopher Merrill, Nonfiction Panel Chair. Photo credit: Robin Platzer/Twin Images.

Good evening ladies and gentlemen, fellow judges, distinguished guests and muses. I would like to take the opportunity for poets to thank the National Book Foundation and all of you for allowing us a place at your table.

I've been asked to make a statement about the state of contemporary poetry. That's a little like hunting for the apparently extinct ivory bill woodpecker. Last year scientists would enter the Pearl River basin in Mississippi believing that bird was there, just extremely shy. They recorded peculiar knockings and reported to the press that discovery was only a matter of time. Articles described what the bird ate, its mating habits, its future; grants were noisily being written offstage. At last the ivory bill did not come forward. But a very close relative, perhaps a little less exotic and smaller, offered itself. The creature flew well, crawled out impressively and indeed proved to be a bird of excellent omen and stature. Soon we forgot what was not. What was, pleased us. It proved to be lively enough and more so.

The books of American poetry for 2002 excited the imaginations of we five judges because they were as various as they were visible descendants of the poetic tradition. More than 140 collections, from the urban to the pastoral, from the lyric to the epic, were scrutinized and found wonderfully alive. Many delightful surprises -- because who knew they were there, or that they were so good?

We judges held multiple four-hour conference calls; we debated merit, tested opinions, and we compromised. We whittled and whittled, then we settle on five nominees, any one of which, we argued, was more than a worthy Winner. And reflective of standards the rewards process demands be represented. My fellow judges were ever ready to show the fair and conscientious readership all writers want. For that I want to sincerely thank the judges in poetry, Elizabeth Alexander, Margaret Gibson, Bob Holman, and Dorianne Laux.

On behalf of us all, I would like to declare for making us part of the family in her poetry, the 2002 Winner of the National Book Award is Ruth Stone. Read Ruth Stone's acceptance speech.