American Poetry Review

Revelator's official publication date is September 1, 2026, but you can pre-order your copy now! Chosen by Dorothea Lasky as the winner of the 2026 APR/Honickman First Book Prize, Revelator glitches and falters, iterates and alludes. This is a book concerned deeply with what’s real, what’s fake, and what’s fantasy. "Ellie Black writes with the urgency of someone who knows the body and the internet are both battleground and altar.

The American Poetry Review Is Happy to Announce the 2026 Winner of The Stern Prize Lynn Melnick for her collection I Deserve This, Thank You The book will be published in April, 2027. Lynn Melnick is the author of three poetry collections, including, most recently Refusenik, winner of the Julie Suk award, and a finalist for the National Jewish Book Award.

The American Poetry Review is happy to announce the winner of the 2026 APR/Honickman First Book Prize, Revelator by Ellie Black. Her book was chosen by esteemed poet Dorothea Lasky and will be published in September, 2026. Ellie Black is a Visiting Assistant Professor in Poetry at Hendrix College. She received a PhD in Creative Writing (emphasis in memoir/autotheory) and an MFA in Poetry from the University of Mississippi.

The American Poetry Review is happy to announce that the 2027 APR/Honickman First Book Prize will be judged by Terrance Hayes. Terrance Hayes’s newest books include a collection of poems, So To Speak (Penguin, 2023), a collection of essays, Watch Your Language (Penguin, 2023), American Sonnets for My Past And Future Assassin (Penguin, 2018) and To Float In The Space Between: Drawings and Essays in Conversation with Etheridge Knight (Wave, 2018).

The American Poetry Review invites poets aged 50 and over, regardless of previous publication to share their unique perspectives in a new book prize honoring the legacy of great American poet Gerald Stern: The Stern Prize. The winner will receive $2,000 and publication of their book in 2027. Join us as we continue the tradition of excellence fostered by APR and Copper Canyon Press. Deadline January 1, 2026. Click here for complete guidelines!

“I think of The American Poetry Review as one of the strongest literary forces of our time. APR is where I go to both discover new poets and rekindle my love with some of the foundational poets. There are times when reading an entire issue, cover to cover, has reminded me of why I love poetry. It is a cornerstone for those of us hungry for poetry that’s both masterful and urgent.” -- Ada Limón, 24th U.S. Poet Laureate Dear Readers, We’re so grateful for the support of our readers around the world.

Please join us for a celebration of the 2025 winner of The APR/Honickman First Book Prize, Bloodmercy by I.S. Jones, selected by Nicole Sealey. The evening will feature readings from both prize-winning poets and a book signing. Reserve your tickets in advance here. Bloodmercyreimagines Cain and Abel as sisters and follows them through the dense geography of girlhood into young womanhood to explore love, sex, and faith.

The American Poetry Review is happy to announce that Catherine Pond has been awarded the 2025 Stanley Kunitz Memorial Prize for her poem “Second Body.” We thank all the poets who submitted work; we were honored to read so many excellent poems. “Second Body” will be featured in the September/October 2025 issue. Catherine Pond is the author of one collection of poetry, Fieldglass, winner of the Crab Orchard First Book Prize and a finalist for the National Poetry Series.

Chosen by Nicole Sealey, Bloodmercy reimagines Cain and Abel as they navigate the dense geography of girlhood into young womanhood to explore violence, love, sex, faith, and man’s dominion over the earth. Blurring the space between the Old Testament and the modern world, the girls gaze heavenward with their enduring questions to God. Lush with tender imagination, Bloodmercy marks a debut to watch.

I was making a roast. The smell wafted from the kitchen into the living room, through the yellow curtains and into the sunlight. Bread warmed in the oven, and in my oven mitt, I managed to forget that I’d ever punched someone in the face. It seemed so long ago, I might not even have done it. I went out into the yard before dark and saw last year’s rake on the lawn. It was a cheap metal one that tore up the old grass. I did that for a while.