Noteworthy Books of Poetry Published In 2015

As it is customary to herald the annual top picks in everything under the sun, including poetry, I wanted to add my voice to the rabble. My selections do not remotely coincide with anyone else’s list — in fact, I find general disagreement among various organs of the media that are expected to render reliable opinions on such things. The only contention I make for each selection is that the writing is remarkable for its ability to endow the reader’s experience with a special quality that transcends the mere utilitarian nature of the language being used.

Notable Poetry Collections:

J. H. Prynne – Poems (2015)

Keston Sutherland – Poetical Works 1999-2015

Eileen Myles – I Must be Living Twice (New & Selected Poems 1975-2014)

Jorie Graham – From the New World: (Poems 1976-2014)

Frank Stanford – What About This: Collected Poems of Frank Stanford

Les Murray – New Selected Poems

Notable Books of New Poetry:

Alice Fulton – Barely Composed

Terrance Hayes – How to Be Drawn

Mark Doty – Deep Lane

John Ashbery – Breezeway

Karen Solie – The Road In Is Not The Same Road Out

Naomi Guttman – The Banquet of Donny & Ari: Scenes from the Opera

Sarah Howe – Loop of Jade

Simeon Berry – Monograph

Laura Kasischke – The Infinitesimals

Don Patterson – 40 Sonnets

Michael Dickman – Green Migraine

Tony Hoagland – Application for Release from the Dream (Poems)

Yusef Komunyakaa – The Emperor of Water Clocks: Poems

Tom Sleigh – Station Zed

Mona Arshi – Small Hands

James Tate – Dome of the Hidden Pavillion: New Poems

Andrew McMillan – Physical

Mary Jo Bang – The Last Two Seconds: Poems