The Michael Adams Poetry Prize

It was a pleasure to attend the awards ceremony for the first annual Michael Adams Poetry Prize, where my poem "Driving Past Autumn Aspen Groves" was awarded first prize in the natural world category. Many of Colorado's finest poets were in attendance or represented, including Jared Smith and M.D. Friedman, and the event was judged and graciously hosted by Martin Balgach. It was a particular pleasure to learn that all three finalists in the nature category were poets published by Liquid Light Press, the press that will release my new chapbook, Lessons on Sleeping Alone, in fall of 2015.

In addition to the showcasing the poetry of Colorado poets, the evening was also a moving celebration of Mike Adams' own work as a poet and a member of the community. Local poets Karen Douglass and Larry Laverdure each read poems by Mike, and many people spoke about his gifts to the literary world and to the arts and culture in and around Lafayette. It was an honor to have been part of such a lovely event.