Griffin Poetry Prize announces 2017 finalists

The Griffin Poetry Prize has announced the seven finalists that comprise the shortlists for their international and Canadian poetry prizes.

The prestigious award is one of the most lucrative poetry prizes in the world, awarding $65,000 to each of the two winners and $10,000 to each of the finalists. The winners will be announced at a ceremony on June 8, 2017.

Indie publishers scored all three spots on the Canadian shortlist this year, which is made up of books from Talonbooks, Wave Books and BookThug:

• Injunby Jordan Abel
• Violet Energy Ingotsby Hoa Nguyen
• Silvijaby Sandra Ridley

The international shortlist includes:

• World of Made and Unmadeby Jane Mead
• In Praise of Defeatby Abdellatif Labi, translated from the French by Donald Nicholson-Smith
• Falling Awakeby Alice Oswald
• Say Something Backby Denise Riley

The 2017 judging panel consists of Canadian poet Sue Goyette, American poet Joan Naviyuk Kane and British poet George Szirtes.

• Alice Oswald on poetry, nature and the shedding of identity

Liz Howard won the Canadian prize in 2016 for her collectionInfinite Citizen of the Shaking Tent. Norman Dubie was awarded the International prize forThe Quotations of Bone.