Foetry: American Poetry Watchdog

Exposing the fraudulent "contests."

Tracking the sycophants.

Naming names.

At 12:45 PM on January 4th, 2006, I called the National Poetry Series and left a message identifying myself and why I was calling, but I have not received a return call. Until the NPS is willing to speak about their history and their current guidelines, I would strongly advise against submitting your manuscript and $30 "entry" fee. -- Foetry editor, Alan Cordle

National Poetry Series

Contest Winners

Confirmed conflicts of interest appear in RED. Suspected conflicts appear in GREEN. Please report any other connections to us in the Forums. Special thanks to forum member, Radarboy, for the initial research.

2005
• Steve Gehrke of Columbia, Missouri, Michelangelo's Seizure Chosen by T.R. Hummer, to be published by University of Illinois Press
• Nadine Meyer of Columbia, Missouri, The Anatomy Theater Chosen by John Koethe, to be published by HarperCollins Publishers
• Patricia Smith of Tarrytown, New York, Teahouse of the Almighty Chosen by Edward Sanders, to be published by Coffee House Press
• S. A. Stepanek of West Chicago, Illinois, Three, Breathing Chosen by Mary Ruefle, to be published by Verse Press/Wave Books
• Tryfon Tolides of Farmington, Connecticut, An Almost Pure Empty Walking Chosen by Mary Karr, to be published by Penguin Books
2004
• David Friedman of New York, New York, The Welcome. Chosen by Stephen Dunn. Published by University of Illinois Press.
• Tyehimba Jess of Brooklyn, New York, leadbelly. Chosen by Brigit Pegeen Kelly. Published by Verse Press.
• Corinne Lee of Austin, Texas, PYX. Chosen by Pattiann Rogers. Published by Penguin Books.
• Ange Mlinko of Brooklyn, New York, A Book Called Odile. Chosen by Bob Holman. Published by Coffee House Press.
• Camille Norton of Stockton, California, Corruption. Chosen by Campbell McGrath. Published by HarperCollins.
2003
• Shiva's Drum by Stephen Cramer. Selected by Grace Schulman. Published by University of Illinois Press.
• Andrew Feld's Citizen Chosen by Ellen Bryant Voigt. Published by HarperCollins Publishers.
• Murder (a violet) by Raymond McDaniel. Selected by Anselm Hollo. Published by Coffee House Press.
• John Spaulding The White Train: Poems from Photographs. Selected by Henry Taylor. Published by Louisiana State University Press.
• Mark Yakich Unrelated Individuals Forming a Group Waiting to Cross. Selected by James Galvin. Published by Penguin Books.
2002
• Rhythm & Booze by Julie Kane. Selected by Maxine Kumin Published by University of Illinois Press.
• Sanskrit of the Body by William Keckler. Selected by Mary Oliver Published by Viking Penguin.
• The Monster Lives of Boys and Girls Eleni Sikelianos. Selected by Diane Ward Published by Green Integer.
• The Standing Wave by Gabriel Spera. Selected by Dave Smith Published by HarperCollinsPublishers.
• Tenderness Shore by Meredith Stricker. Selected by Fred Chapell Published by Louisiana State University.
2001
• Year of Morphines Betsy Brown. Selected by George Garrett. Published by Louisiana State University Press.
• Theory of Devolution by David Groff. Selected by Mark Doty. Published by University of Illinois Press.
• Hip Logic Terrance Hayes. Selected by Cornelius Eady. Published by Viking Penguin.
• Edgewater Ruth L. Schwartz. Selected by Jane Hirshfield. Published by HarperCollinsPublishers.
• Pure Descent Elizabeth Robinson. Selected by Fanny Howe. Published by Green Integer.
2000
• Anthem Jean Donnelly. Selected by Charles Bernstein. Published by Sun and Moon.
• That Kind of Sleep Susan Atefat Peckham. Selected by Victor Hernandez Cruz. Published by Coffee House Press.
• Tremolo Spencer Short. Selected by Billy Collins. Published by HarperCollinsPublishers.
• Manderley Rebecca Wolff. Selected by Robert Pinsky. Published by University of Illinois Press.
• Asunder Susan Wood. Selected by Garrett Hongo. Published by Viking Penguin.
1999
• Madame Deluxe, by Tenaya Darlington. Chosen by Lawson Inada. Published by Coffee House Press.
• Nova, by Standard Schaefer. Chosen by Nick Piombino. Published by Sun & Moon Press.
• Climbing Back, by Dionisio MartÍnez. Chosen by Jorie Graham. Published by W.W. Norton.
• Drivers at the Short-Time Motel, by Eugene Gloria. Chosen by Yusef Komunyakaa. Published by Viking Penguin.
• Renunciation, by Corey Marks. Chosen by Philip Levine. Published by University of Illinois Press. Foetry made two attempts to contact Marks for clarification about his connection to Levine and no response was received. See this thread for details.
1998
• Butterfly Effect, by Harry Humes. Chosen by Pattiann Rogers. Published by Milkweed Editions.
• Atmosphere Conditions, by Ed Roberson. Chosen by Nathaniel Mackey. Published by Sun & Moon Press.
• Looking for the Parade, by Joan Murray. Chosen by Robert Bly. Published by W.W. Norton.
• Beyond Heart Mountain, by Lee Ann Roripaugh. Chosen by Ishmael Reed. Published by Viking Penguin.
• So Often the Pitcher Goes to Water Until It Breaks, by Rigoberto Gonzalez. Chosen by Ai. Published by University of Illinois Press.
1997
• Except By Nature, by Sandra Alcosser. Chosen by Eamon Grennan. Published by Graywolf Press.
• Tales of Murasaki and Other Poems, by Martine Bellen. Chosen by Rosmarie Waldrop. Published by Sun & Moon Press.
• The Origins of Evening, by Robert Gibb. Chosen by Eavan Boland. Published by W.W. Norton.
• Silent Treatment, by Lisa Lewis. Chosen by Stanley Plumly. Published by Penguin Books.
• Lost Wax, by Heather Ramsdell. Chosen by James Tate. Published by University of Illinois Press.
1996
• Red Signature, by Mary Leader. Chosen by Deborah Digges. Published by Graywolf Press.
• The Little Door Slides Back, by Jeff Clark. Chosen by Ray DiPalma. Published by Sun & Moon Press.
• Placebo Effects, by Jeanne Marie Beaumont. Chosen by William Matthews. Published by W.W. Norton.
• The New Intimacy, by Barbara Cully. Chosen by Carolyn Forche. Published by Viking Penguin Press.
• Nine Skies, by A.V. Christie. Chosen by Sandra McPherson. Published by University of Illinois Press.
1995
• Leaving a Shadow, by Heather Allen. Chosen by Denise Levertov. Published by Copper Canyon Press.
• Response, by Juliana Spahr. Chosen by Lyn Hejinian. Published by Sun & Moon Press.
• Crash's Law, by Karen Volkman. Chosen by Heather McHugh. Published by W.W. Norton. A tipster says, "Karen Volkman took workshops with Heather McHugh at the Mount Holyoke Writers Workshop before she won this award. As an insider, I can also attest that Volkman also visited to another writers conference, where she wasn't even a paying participant, to pay a visit to Heather. I assume friendship from that."
• Strange Relations, by Daniel Hall. Chosen by Mark Doty. Published by Viking Penguin Press.
• The Broken World, by Marcus Cafagna. Chosen by Yusef Komunyakaa. Published by University of Illinois Press.
1994
• Infanta, by Erin Belieu. Chosen by Hayden Carruth. Published by Copper Canyon Press.
• To Give It Up, by Pam Rehm. Chosen by Barbara Guest. Published by Sun & Moon Press.
• A Hummock in the Malookas, by Matthew Rohrer. Chosen by Mary Oliver. Published by W.W. Norton.
• The Human Abstract, by Elizabeth Willis. Chosen by Ann Lauterbach. Published by Penguin Books.
• Theater of Animals, by Samn Stockwell. Chosen by Louise Gluck. Published by University of Illinois Press.
1993
• The Other Man Was Me: A Voyage to the New World, by Rafael Campo. Chosen by Gloria Vando. Published by Arte Publico Press.
• Most Way Home, by Kevin Young. Chosen by Lucille Clifton. Published by William Morrow and Co.
• The Landlady in Bangkok and Other Poems, by Karen Swenson. Chosen by Maxin Kumin. Published by Copper Canyon Press.
• The Other Stars, by Rachel Wetzteon. Chosen by John Hollander. Published by Viking Penguin.
• The High Road to Taos, by Martin Edmunds. Chosen by Donald Hall. Published by University of Illinois Press.
1992
• Lost Body, by Terry Ehret. Chosen by Carolyn Kizer. Published by Copper Canyon Press.
• Shorter Poems, by Gerald Burns. Chosen by Robert Creeley. Published by Dalkey Archive Press.
• Debt, by Mark Levine. Chosen by Jorie Graham. Published by William Morrow and Co.
• What We Don't Know About Each Other, by Lawrence Raab. Chosen by Stephen Dunn. Published by Viking Penguin.
• My Alexandria, by Mark Doty. Chosen by Philip Levine. Published by University of Illinois Press.
1991
• A Flower Whose Name I Do Not Know, by David Romtvedt. Chosen by John Haines. Published by Copper Canyon Press.
• To Put the Mouth To, by Judith Hall. Chosen by Richard Howard. Published by William Morrow and Co.
• As If, by James Richardson. Chosen by Amy Clampitt. Published by Persea Books.
• Good Hope Road, by Stuart Dischell. Chosen by Thomas Lux. Published by Viking Penguin.
• The Dig, by Lynn Emmanuel. Chosen by Gerald Stern. Published by University of Illinois Press.
1990
• Words For My Daughter, by John Balaban. Chosen by W.S. Merwin. Published by Copper Canyon Press.
• Questions About Angels, by Billy Collins. Chosen by Edward Hirsch. Published by William Morrow and Co.
• Rainbow Remnants in Rock Bottom Ghetto Sky, by Thylias Moss. Chosen by Charles Simic. Published by Persea Books.
• The Island Itself, by Roger Fanning. Chosen by Michael Ryan. Published by Viking Penguin.
• The Surface, by Laura Mullen. Chosen by C.K. Williams. Published by University of Illinois Press.
1989
• Terra Firma, by Thomas Centolella. Chosen by Denise Levertov. Published by Copper Canyon Press.
• Artist and Model, by Carol Snow. Chosen by Robert Hass. Published by Atlantic Monthly Press.
• The Brother's Country, by Tom Andrews. Chosen by Charles Wright. Published by Persea Books.
• Blessings in Disguise, by David Clewell. Chosen by Quincy Troupe. Published by Viking Penguin.
• Stubborn, by Roland Flint. Chosen by Dave Smith. Published by University of Illinois Press.
1988
• Green The Witch Hazel Wood, by Emily Hiestand. Chosen by Jorie Graham. Published by Graywolf Press.
• After We Lost Our Way, by David Mura. Chosen by Gerald Stern. Published by E.P. Dutton.
• Black Wings, by Len Roberts. Chosen by Sharon Olds. Published by Persea Books.
• No Mercy, by Lee Upton. Chosen by James Tate. Published by Atlantic Monthly Press.
• The Great Bird of Love, by Paul Zimmer. Chosen by William Stafford. Published by University of Illinois Press.
1987
• A Guide to Forgetting, by Jeffrey Skinner. Chosen by Tess Gallagher. Published by Graywolf Press.
• The Singing Underneath, by Jeffrey Harrison. Chosen by James Merrill. Published by E.P. Dutton.
• The Good Thief, by Marie Howe. Chosen by Margaret Atwood. Published by Persea Books.
• New Math, by Cole Swenson. Chosen by Michael Palmer. Published by William Morrow and Co.
• The Hand of God And A Few Bright Flowers, by William Olsen. Chosen by David Wagoner. Published by University of Illinois Press.
1986
• Cardinals in the Ice Age, by John Engels. Chosen by Philip Levine. Published by Graywolf Press.
• Red Roads, by Charlie Smith. Chosen by Stanley Kunitz. Published by E.P. Dutton.
• Junk City, by Barbara Anderson. Chosen by Robert Pinsky. Published by Persea Books.
• Little Star, by Mark Halliday. Chosen by Heather McHugh. Published by William Morrow and Co.
• Cities in Motion, by Sylvia Moss. Chosen by Derek Walcott. Published by University of Illinois Press.
1985
• As Long As You're Happy, by Jack Myers. Chosen by Seamus Heaney. Published by Graywolf Press.
• Living Gloves, by Lynn Doyle. Chosen by Cynthia Macdonald. Published by E.P. Dutton.
• Saints, by Reginald Gibbons. Chosen by Roland Flint. Published by Persea Books.
• Local Time, by Stephen Dunn. Chosen by Dave Smith. Published by William Morrow and Co.
• Palladium, by Alice Fulton. Chosen by Mark Strand. Published by University of Illinois Press.
1984
• Wild Onion, by Robert L. Jones. Chosen by Carolyn Forche. Published by Graywolf Press.
• The Raft, by Kathy Fagan. Chosen by Daniel Halpern. Published by E.P. Dutton.
• Afterwards, by Amy Bartlett. Chosen by Galway Kinnell. Published by Persea Books.
• Silver & Information, by Bruce Smith. Chosen by Hayden Carruth. Published by University of Georgia Press.
• Eroding Witness, by Nathaniel Mackey. Chosen by Michael Harper. Published by University of Illinois Press.
1983
• In the Solar Wind, by Wendy Battin. Chosen by William Matthews. Published by Doubleday & Co.
• Ark 50, by Ronald Johnson. Chosen by Charles Simic. Published by E.P. Dutton.
• God's Mistress, by James Galvin. Chosen by Marvin Bell. Published by Harper & Row.
• The Persistence of Memory, by Mary Fell. Chosen by Madeline deFrees. Published by Random House.
• Black Dog, Red Dog, by Stephen Dobyns. Chosen by Robert Hass. Published by Holt, Rinehart & Winston.
1982
• The Greater Leisures, by Jane Miller. Chosen by Stanley Plumly. Published by Doubleday & Co.
• Selected Poems 1958-1980, by Joanne Kyger. Chosen by Robert Creeley. Published by E.P. Dutton.
• From the Abandoned Cities, by Donald Revell. Chosen by C.K. Williams. Published by Harper & Row.
• Hands in Exile, by Susan Tichy. Chosen by Sandra McPherson. Published by Random House.
• Corpse and Mirror, by John Yau. Chosen by John Ashberry. Published by Holt, Rinehart & Winston.
1981
• Accidental Weather, by Sherod Santos. Chosen by Charles Wright. Published by Doubleday & Co.
• Hugging the Jukebox, by Naomi Shihab Nye. Chosen by Josephine Miles. Published by E.P. Dutton.
• Second Sight, by Jonathan Aaron. Chosen by Anthony Hecht. Published by Harper & Row.
• The Incognito Lounge, by Denis Johnson. Chosen by Mark Strand. Published by Random House.
• The Mud Actor, by Cyrus Cassells. Chosen by Al Young. Published by Holt, Rinehart & Winston.
1980
• Gumbo, by George Barlow. Chosen by Ishmael Reed. Published by Doubleday & Co.
• The Dollmakers Ghost, by Larry Levis. Chosen by Stanley Kunitz. Published by E.P. Dutton.
• Leaving Taos, by Robert Peterson. Chosen by Carolyn Kizer. Published by Harper & Row.
• So This Is the Map, by Reg Saner. Chosen by Derek Walcott. Published by Random House.
• In Winter, by Michael Ryan. Chosen by Louise Gluck. Published by Holt, Rinehart & Winston.
1979
• Any Body's Song, by Joseph Langland. Chosen by Ann Stanford.Published by Doubleday & Co.
• Folly River, by Wendy Salinger. Chosen by Donald Hall. Published by E.P. Dutton.
• Selected Poems, by Sterling Brown. Chosen by Michael Harper. Published by Harper & Row.
• Denizens, by Ronald Perry. Chosen by Donald Justice. Published by Random House.
• Silks, by Roberta Spear. Chosen by Philip Levine. Published by Holt, Rinehart & Winston.