A: $100,000

The New York Times reports that Gary Snyder (Back on the Fire, 2007) has won the Ruth Lilly Poetry Prize.

Celebrate National Poetry Month by reading Ray Olson’s review of Fakhraddin Gorgani’s Vis & Ramin (Mage), or even the book itself, or some other book of poetry, or a single poem, or even by writing a poem. I’ll admit it, I’m a little behind in my celebrating, too, but, counting today, there are seven fulls days left in which to make our lives a tiny bit more poetic.

May I recommend one of my favorite poets? Richard Hugo, who lived down the street from me when I was too young to appreciate it.

(He also wrote a pretty darn good mystery, too!)

Q. Why isn’t there an FAQ for modern poetry?

A. There is. From Salon (”Why Don’t Modern Poems Rhyme, Etc.” by Robert Pinsky):

9. Well, I like poetry that is amusing, that maybe makes me chuckle a little. I’d rather read something reassuring and light than something complicated or gloomy. Is that bad? Does that mean I am a jerk?

Yes.