The Philip Levine Prize in Poetry is an annual book contest proudly sponsored by the M.F.A. Program at California State University, Fresno. This contest, open to all poets (except current or former students or faculty of Fresno State), offers a $1500 prize, publication and distribution by Anhinga Press (a Florida-based press that has been publishing poetry for more than 25 years), and 25 free author copies of the winning book.

Through participation in our "Literary Editing and Publishing" course, M.F.A. students are given an opportunity to serve as manuscript readers for the Prize, as well as to learn about other facets of contest administration, book publishing and promotions.

The contest is named for poet Philip Levine who was the final judge in 2001, 2002, 2005. Philip Levine taught at California State University, Fresno for many years and is one of the best known and most highly-honored American poets. He has published 16 books of poems, as well as several volumes of translations and two collections of essays. His list of honors includes two National Book Awards, two National Book Critics Circle Awards, the American Book Award, the Ruth Lily Poetry Prize for Distinguished Poetic Achievement, and the Pulitzer Prize for poetry.

The MFA Program at California State University, Fresno, is pleased to announce that Neil Aitken's manuscript THE LOST COUNTRY OF SIGHT is the winner of the 2007 Philip Levine Prize in Poetry. THE LOST COUNTRY OF SIGHT will be published by Anhinga Press this year.

The final judge, C. G. Hanzlicek, writes, "It's difficult to believe that Neil Aitken's The Lost Country of Sight is a first book, since there is mastery throughout the collection.   His ear is finely tuned, and his capacity for lyricism seems almost boundless.   What stands out everywhere in the poems is his imagery, which is not only visually precise but is also possessed of a pure depth.   The poems never veer off into the sensational; they are built from pensiveness and quietude and an affection for the world.   “Traveling Through the Prairies, I Think of My Father's Voice” strikes me as a perfectly made poem, but poems of similar grace and power are to be found throughout the book.   This is a debut to celebrate."

28 finalists were chosen: The Kissing Party by Sarah Barber; YIKLA--this is the life: Poems of Antarctic Exploration by Elizabeth Bradfield; What Comes, What Goes by Tara Bray; The Necessary Dark by Susanna Childress; River Once Removed by Star Coulbrooke; A Slow Hum Rumbling by Rebecca Morgan Frank; The Last Lie by Tony Gloeggler; sky = empty by Judy Halebsky; The Stranger Dissolves by Christina Hutchins; Beautiful in the Mouth by Keetje Kuipers; Bird on Her Finger, Hand at the Gate by Elizabeth Langemak; The Rounding Stone by Gary Lark; Arriving After Dark by Ingrid Browning Moody; Holding Everything Down by William Notter; Vectors by Judith Pacht; Oracle Bones by Patty Paine; Black Frost by Martie McCleery Palar; In the Human Zoo by Jennifer Perrine; My Place Among the Missing by David Petruzelli; If You Have Ghosts by John Pursley III; Dancing on One Foot by Marjorie Saiser; Ordinary Mourning by Carrie Shipers; One by Molly Tenenbaum; The Dirt Riddles by Michael Walsh; What the Dead Want by Israel Wasserstein; Those Flames by Irene Willis; Low Company by Lindsay Wilson; and Small House Breathing by Claire Zoghb

2008 Competition
Judge: Dorianne Laux

• Postmark Deadline: 9/30/08
• Manuscript should be original poetry, not previously published in book form, and should be 48-80 pages, no more than one poem per page.
• Include two manuscript title pages: one with name and contact information and one with the name of the manuscript ONLY. Manuscripts will be screened and judged anonymously.
• Multiple Submissions are fine as long as the manuscript is withdrawn immediately upon its acceptance elsewhere.
• All poets are eligible except current or former faculty or students of California State University, Fresno, or close friends of the judge.
• The entry fee is $25. Checks should be made out to "CSU Fresno Levine Prize."
• Poets can submit more than one manuscript, but each will be considered a separate entry and must be accompanied by a $25 fee.
• Please bind your manuscript with a binder clip ONLY and mail by 9/30/08 (postmark deadline), to:

Philip Levine Prize in Poetry
CSUF English Department
5245 N. Backer Ave. MS PB98
Fresno, CA 93740-8001

Previous Years