title: 1977 in poetry
text: # 1977 in poetry
  
  Nationality words link to articles with information on the nation's poetry or literature (for instance, Irish or France).
  
  ## Events
  
  * January – James Dickey, composes a poem he reads at new United States President Jimmy Carter’s inaugural gala (although not at the inauguration itself).
  * July 11 – The English magazine Gay News is found guilty of blasphemous libel for publishing a homoerotic poem The Love That Dares to Speak Its Name by James Kirkup in a case (Whitehouse v. Lemon) brought by Mary Whitehouse's National Viewers and Listeners Association at the Old Bailey in London.
  * Poet Sarah Kirsch leaves her native East Germany for the West.
  * In Israeli the literary journal Keshet goes defunct, while Itton and Proza are founded.
  
  ## Works published in English
  
  Listed by nation where the work was first published and again by the poet's native land, if different; substantially revised works listed separately:
  
  ### Australia
  
  * Robert Adamson Cross The Border
  * Jennifer Maiden, Mortal Details, Rigmarole
  * Les Murray, Ethnic Radio, Angus & Robertson
  * John Tranter, Crying in Early Infancy: 100 Sonnets, Makar Press
  
  ### Canada
  
  * Earle Birney:
     * The Damnation of Vancouver. Toronto: McClelland & Stewart. A satire on the modern city.
     * Ghost in the Wheels: selected poems. Toronto: McClelland and Stewart.
  * Roo Borson, Landfall, ISBN 0-920110-32-0 American-Canadian
  * Leonard Cohen, Death of a Ladies' Man
  * Isabella Valancy Crawford, Hugh and Ion, Glenn Clever ed. (Ottawa: Borealis). ISBN 978-0-919594-77-7
  * Irving Layton, The Poems of Irving Layton. Eli Mandel ed. Toronto: McClelland and Stewart. Also published, with an introduction by Hugh Kenner, as The Selected Poems of Irving Layton. New York: New Directions, 1977. ISBN 0-8112-0642-4
  * Irving Layton, The Covenant. Toronto: McClelland and Stewart.
  * Dorothy Livesay, Right Hand Left Hand. Erin, ON: Porcepic.
  * Pat Lowther, A Stone Diary
  * Miriam Mandel, Station 14. Edmonton: NeWest Press. ISBN 0-920316-08-5 ISBN 978-0920316085
  * Charles Sangster, The Angel Guest and Other Poems and Lyrics, edited by Frank M. Tierney (Tecumseh)
  * F. R. Scott, Poems of French Canada. Translated by F. R. Scott. Burnaby, B.C.: Blackfish Press.
  * Raymond Souster, Extra Innings. Ottawa. Oberon Press.
  * George Woodcock, Anima, or, Swann Grown Old. A Cycle of Poems by George Woodcock, Windsor, Ontario: Black Moss Press, Canada
  
  ### India, in English
  
  * R. Parthasarathy, Rough Passage, Delhi: Oxford University Press
  * Meena Alexander, I Root My Name, Calcutta: Writers Workshop, India.
  
  ### Ireland
  
  * Samuel Beckett, Collected Poems in English and French, Irish native living in France and published in the United Kingdom
  * Eiléan Ní Chuilleanáin: The Second Voyage, including "Deaths and Engines", Oldcastle: The Gallery Press
  * Harry Clifton, The Walls of Carthage Oldcastle: The Gallery Press, ISBN 978-0-902996-51-9
  * Paul Muldoon, Mules, Northern Ireland poet published in the United Kingdom
  * Frank Ormsby, A Store of Candles, including "Passing the Crematorium", Oldcastle: Gallery Press
  * Tom Paulin, A State of Justice, Northern Ireland poet published in the United Kingdom
  
  ### New Zealand
  
  * Bill Manhire, How to Take Off Your Clothes at the Picnic
  * Lauris Edmond, The Pear Tree: Poems
  * R. Ensing, editor, Private Gardens, anthology of New Zealand women poets
  * Kendrick Smithyman, Dwarf with a Billiard Cue, Auckland: Auckland University Press and Oxford University Press
  * Ian Wedde, Spells for Coming Out, New Zealand
  
  ### South Africa
  
  * Mafika Gwala, Jol'iinkomo
  
  ### United Kingdom
  
  * Samuel Beckett, Collected Poems in English and French, Irish native living in France and published in the United Kingdom
  * Kamau Brathwaite, Mother Poem
  * Joseph Brodsky: Poems and Translations, Keele: University of Keele Russian-American (but published in the United Kingdom; see United States section for a book published there)
  * Donald Davies, To Scorch or Freeze
  * Carol Ann Duffy and Adrian Henri, Beauty and the Beast
  * Elaine Feinstein:
     * Some Unease and Angels, Hutchinson
     * Selected Poems, University Center, Michigan, Green River Press
  * W. S. Graham, Implements in their Places
  * Michael Hamburger, Real Estate
  * Adrian Henri, City Hedges
  * Ted Hughes, Gaudete, derived from an abandoned film scenario, the book has elements of a poetic novel, narrative poem and verse play
  * Elizabeth Jennings, Consequently I Rejoice
  * Norman MacCaig, Tree of Strings
  * Sorley MacLean, pen name of Somhairle MacGill-Eain, Spring Tide and Neap Tide [Reothairt is Contraigh], in Gaelic and English
  * Paul Muldoon, Mules, Northern Ireland poet published in the United Kingdom
  * Tom Paulin, A State of Justice, Northern Ireland poet published in the United Kingdom
  * Kathleen Raine, The Oval Portrait, and Other Poems
  * Peter Scupham, The Hinterland
  * R. S. Thomas, The Way of It
  * Anthony Thwaite, A Portion for Foxes
  
  ### United States
  
  * A. R. Ammons:
     * Highgate Road
     * The Selected Poems: 1951-1977
     * The Snow Poems
  * John Ashbery, Houseboat Days
  * Ted Berrigan:
     * Clear The Range
     * Nothing For You
  * John Berryman, Henry's Fate and Other Poems, 1967-1972, with 45 previously unpublished "Dream Songs" (posthumous)
  * Joseph Payne Brennan, The Riddle (Fantome Press)
  * Frank Bidart, The Book of the Body
  * Elizabeth Bishop, Geography III, which includes "In the Waiting Room," "The Moose," and the villanelle, "One Art"
  * Joseph Brodsky: A Part of Speech Russian-American (see United Kingdom section for a book published there)
  * Robert Bly, This Body is Made of Camphor and Gopherwood
  * Billy Collins, Pokerface
  * Frank Belknap Long, In Mayan Splendor
  * Michael S. Harper, Images of Kin (1977), won the Melville-Cane Award from the Poetry Society of America; nominated for the National Book Award
  * Robert Lowell, Day by Day
  * W. S. Merwin:
     * The Compass Flower, New York: Atheneum
     * Translator, Vertical Poetry, poems by Roberto Juarroz; San Francisco: Kayak (reprinted in 1988; San Francisco: North Point Press)
  * W. S. Merwin and J. Moussaieff Mason, translators, Sanskrit Love Poetry, New York: Columbia University Press (published in 1981 as Peacock's Egg: Love Poems from Ancient India, San Francisco: North Point Press)
  * Michael Palmer, Without Music (Black Sparrow Press)
  * Carl Rakosi, My Experience in Parnassus
  * Charles Reznikoff, Poems 1937-1975 (published posthumously)
  * Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, Prussian Nights, translated into English from the original Russian by Robert Conquest; first written in 1951; first published in 1974
  * Gary Soto, The Elements of San Joaquin
  
  ## Works published in other languages
  
  Listed by language and often by nation where the work was first published and again by the poet's native land, if different; substantially revised works listed separately:
  
  ### Denmark
  
  * Vita Andersen, Tryghedsnarkomaner
  * Jørgen Gustava Brandt, Ophold
  * Klaus Høeck:
     * Projekt Perseus, publisher: Gyldendal
     * Ulrike Marie Meinhof, publisher: Gyldendal
  * Vagn Lundbye, Digte 1977
  * Jess Ornsbo, Digte uden arbejde
  * Charlotte Strandgaard, Naesten kun om kaerlighed
  
  ### French language
  
  **Canada, in French**
  
  * Denise Boucher and Madeleine Gagnon, Retailles
  * Claude Gavreau, Ouvres créatrices complètes (posthumous)
  * Michel Leclerc, La Traversée du réel
  * Pierre Nepveu, Épisodes, Montréal: l'Hexagone
  
  **France**
  
  * Samuel Beckett, Collected Poems in English and French, Irish native living in France and published in the United Kingdom
  * Yves Bonnefoy, Rue Traversière
  * André du Bouchet, Air (1950–1953)
  * Alain Delahaye, L'etre perdu
  * Philippe Denis, Malgré la bouche
  * Roger Giroux, published posthumously (died 1973):
     * S
     * L'arbre le Temps suivi le Lieu-Je et de Lettre
  * Eugene Guilleveic, Du domaine
  * Emmanuel Hocquard, Album d'images de la Villa Harris
  * Georges Perec, Alphabets
  * Jacques Roubaud, Autobiographie chapitre dix
  * Alain Veinstein, Recherche des dispositions anciennes
  
  ### German language
  
  **East Germany**
  
  * Sarah Kirsch, Rückenwind, love poems
  * Paul Günter Krohn, Alle meine Namen
  
  **West Germany**
  
  * Herbert Asmodi [de], Jokers Farewell
  * Gotthard de Beauclair, Zeit, Überzeit
  * Rolf Haufs, Die Geschwindigkeit eines einzigen Tages
  * Karl Krowlow, Der Einfachheit halber
  * Norbert Mecklenburg, Naturlyrik und Gesellschaft Stuttgart: Klett-Cotta (scholarship)
  
  ### Hebrew
  
  * Nathan Alterman, a posthumous book of poems
  * O. Bernstein, a book of poems
  * Simon Halkin, a book of the collected poems and works
  * Hurvitz, a book of poems
  * Shimshon Meltzer, a book of the collected poems and works
  * Gabriel Preil, a book of poems
  * Dalia Ravikovitch, a book of poems
  * Yonatan Ratosh, a book of poems
  * Shin Shalom, a book of poems
  * Y. Wallach, a book of collected poems
  * Meir Wieseltier, a book of poems
  * Avot Yeshurun, a book of poems
  * Zussman, a posthumous book of poems
  
  ### India
  
  In each section, listed in alphabetical order by first name:
  
  **Malayalam**
  
  * Sugathakumari, Raathrimazha (Night Rain)
  
  **Oriya**
  
  * Mohan Upendra Thakur, Baji Uthal Murali
  * Rajendra Kishore Panda:
     * Satadru Anek, Cuttack: Agradoot
     * Ghunakshara, Cuttack: Cuttack Students' Store
  
  **Sindhi**
  
  * Hari Daryani, Pala Pala Jo Parlau
  * Harumal Isardas Sadarangani, Cikha
  * Parsram Rohra, O Nava Halaina Vara
  
  **Urdu**
  
  * Mehr Lal Soni Zia Fatehabadi Dhoop Aur Chandni (The Sunlight and the Moonlight) - Collection of poems published by Radha Krishan Sehgal, Bazm-e-Seemab, J 5/21, Rajouri Garden, New Delhi in 1977.
  
  **Other languages in India**
  
  * K. Satchidanandan, Kavita, ("Poetry"); Malayalam-language
  * Nilmani Phookan; Assamese-language:
     * Golapi Jamur Lagna, Guwahati, Assam: Bani Prakash
     * Editor, Kuri Satikar Asomiya Kavita, an anthology of modern Assamese poetry; Guwahati, Assam: Asom Prakashan Parishad
  * Siddayya Puranika, Vacanodyana, modern vachana poetry, Kannada-language
  
  ### Italy
  
  * Bartolo Cattafi, Marzo e le sue idi
  * Giovanni Guidici, Il male de creditori
  * Tommaso Landolfi, Il tradimento
  * Eugenio Montale, Tutte le poesie, publisher: Mondadori (enlarged edition published posthumously in 1984)
  * Maria Luisa Spaziani, Transito con catene
  
  ### Norway
  
  * Hans Børli, Vinden ser aldri pa veviserne
  * Jan Magnus Bruheim, Lyrespelaren
  * Gunvor Hofmo, Hva fanger natten
  * Peter R. Holm, I disse bilder
  * Stein Mehren, Det trettende stjernebilde
  * Sigmund Skard, Ord mot mørkret
  * Helge Vatsend, Livets bok
  
  ### Portuguese language
  
  **Portugal**
  
  * Ruy de Moura Belo, Despeço-me da terra da alegria ("I Bid Farewell to the Land of Happiness")
  * Herberto Helder, Cobra
  * António Ramos Rosa, Boca Incompleta
  * Sophia Andresen, O Nome das Coisas
  * Fiama Brandão, Homenagem à Literatura
  * Liberto Cruz, Distància
  * Vitorino Nemésio, Sapateia Açoriana
  
  **Brazil**
  
  * Carlos Nejar, Árvore do mundo
  * Décio Pignatari
     * Poesia / Pois é / Poesia (poems)
     * Comunicacao poética (critical theory about poetry)
  * Murilo Mendes, a posthumous collection of poems edited by João Cabral de Melo Neto, with a study by José Guilherme Merquior
  
  ### Russia
  
  * Arkadi Kuleshov, a book of poems
  * Bella Akhmadulina:
     * Candle
     * Dreams of Georgia
  * Alexander Mezhirov, Очертания вещей ("Outline of things"), Russia, Soviet Union
  * Valentin Sorokin, a book of poems
  * Stepan Shchipachev, a book of poems
  * Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, Prussian Nights, narrative poem, much of it composed in his head when he was in concentration camps
  * Yevgeny Yevtushenko, a book of poems
  * "[L]esser-known poets who attracted attention":
     * Konstantin Vanshenkin
     * Anatoly Zhigulin
     * Rimma Kazakova
     * Viktor Bokov
     * Maya Borisova
     * Stanslav Zolotsev
  
  ### Spanish language
  
  **Spain**
  
  * Francisco Brines, Insistencia en Luzbel
  * Matilde Camus, Cancionero de Liébana ("Collection of verse of Liebana")
  * José María Valverde, Ser de palabra
  
  **Latin America**
  
  * Mario Benedetti, La casa y el ladrillo ("The House and the Brick"), Uruguay
  * Antonio Cisneros, el libro de dios y de los húngaros (Peru)
  * Jaime Sabines, Nuevo recuento de poemas (Mexico)
  * Efraín Huerta, Circuito interior (Mexico)
  * David Huerta, Cuadernos de noviembre (Mexico)
  
  ### Yiddish
  
  * David Hofshteyn, a two-volume selection of poems
  * Josl Lerner, Till Dawn Breaks, partly written in a German-Romanian death camp during World War II
  * Chaim Maltinsky, My Mother's Resemblance
  * Hirsh Osherovitch, Song in a Labyrinth
  * Shloyme Roitman, My Israel Shofar
  * Efraim Roitman, The Earth Sings
  * Motl Saktzier, With a Burned Pencil, about his experiences in Soviet gulags
  * M.M. Shaffir, Words of Endearment
  * Avrom Sutzkever, Poems from My Diary
  * Rajzel Zychlinska, The Sun of November
  
  ### Other languages
  
  * Stanisław Barańczak, Ja wiem, ze to niesluszne ("I Know It's Not Right"), Paris: Instytut Literacki; Polish
  * Anne-Marie Berglund, Luftberusningen, Sweden
  * Chen Yi, Selected Poems; China
  * Odysseus Elytis, Signalbook (Σηματολόγιον); Greece
  * Ndoc Gjetja, Qëndresa ("Center"); Albania
  * Gozo Yoshimasu, river, Written in Cursive Characters; Japan
  * Lars Gustafsson, Sonetter; Sweden
  * Per E. Rundquist, Men störst av allt är kärleken till vem; (Sweden
  * Piotr Sommer, W krześle; Poland
  * Marlene van Niekerk, Sprokkelster; South Africa
  * Wen Wu-pin, Battle Songs of Tachai; China
  * Yasuo Irisawa, Moon and Other Poems; Japan
  
  ## Awards and honors
  
  * Nobel Prize in Literature: Vicente Aleixandre (Spain)
  
  ### Canada
  
  * 1977 Governor General's Awards
  
  ### United Kingdom
  
  * Eric Gregory Award: Tony Flynn, Michael Vince, David Cooke, Douglas Marshall, Melissa Murray
  * Queen's Gold Medal for Poetry: Norman Nicholson
  
  ### United States
  
  * AML Award for Poetry to Linda Sillitoe for "The Old Philosopher, Letter to a Four-Year-Old Daughter" and Arthur Henry King for "The Field Behind Holly House"
  * Bollingen Prize: David Ignatow
  * National Book Award for Poetry: Richard Eberhart, Collected Poems, 1930-1976
  * Pulitzer Prize for Poetry: James Merrill, Divine Comedies
  * Walt Whitman Award: Lauren Shakely, Guilty Bystander
  * Fellowship of the Academy of American Poets: Louis Coxe
  
  ## Births
  
  * April 18 — Ilya Kaminsky, Soviet-born Russian- and English-language poet
  * September 25 — Sole, American hip hop artist
  * Jenni Fagan, Scottish novelist and poet
  
  ## Deaths
  
  Birth years link to the corresponding "[year] in poetry" article:
  
  * January 5 — Artur Adson, 87, Estonian poet and critic
  * January 21 — Sandro Penna, 70, Italian
  * February 2 — Rashid Hussein, 41, Palestinian Arabic poet in the United States, in fire
  * April 7 — Elizabeth Daryush, 96, English poet, daughter of Robert Bridges
  * April 11 — Jacques Prévert, 77, French
  * September 12 — Robert Lowell, 60, American, from a heart attack
  * November 30 — Miloš Crnjanski, 84, Serbian poet and novelist
  * December 18 — Louis Untermeyer, 92, American author, poet, anthologist and editor
  * December 30 — Katherine C. Biddle, 87, American
  * Also — Gitaujali Badruddin, 16, Indian girl poet
  