Untitled Books

The shortlists for this year's Forward Prizes for Poetry have been announced. Inaugurated in 1991, they are among the UK's most significant poetry awards, and the only ones to honour both established poets and newcomers.

The shortlisted works are:-

Best collection:

Glyn Maxwell, Hide Now

Sharon Olds, One Secret Thing

Don Paterson, Rain

Peter Porter, Better Than God

Christopher Reid, A Scattering

Hugo Williams, West End Final

Best first collection:

Siân Hughes, The Missing

Emma Jones, The Striped World

Meirion Jordan, Moonrise

Lorraine Mariner, Furniture

J.O. Morgan, Natural Mechanical

Meghan O'Rourke, Hatlife

Best single poem:

Paul Farley, 'Moles'

Michael Longley, 'Visiting Stanley Kunitz'

Robin Robertson, 'At Roane Road'

Elizabeth Speller, 'Finistere'

George Szerties, 'Song'

C.K. Williams, 'Either/Or'

William Sieghart, founder of the Prizes, described the shortlists as illustrating 'the rude health of the UK's contemporary poetry scene'. Chair of the judges, Josephine Hart, commented: 'Poetry is language at its best, the highest literary art form, and increasingly people are turning in these challenging times to a place they can find wisdom and beauty and - without wanting to sound too pious - truth. That's young people and old.'

The total prize fund for the three awards is £16,000. The ceremony will take place at Somerset House on Wednesday 7^th October.

David Hebblethwaite