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Mesmerizingly Sadly Beautiful: Four Way Levis Prize in Poetry

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Published in Mesmerizingly Sadly Beautiful (Four Way Levis Prize In Poetry)

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The Four Way Levis Prize in Poetry is a prestigious award given annually to a poet whose work demonstrates "excellence in craft, originality, and vision." The prize was established in 2003 by the Four Way Books, a non-profit publisher of contemporary poetry, and is named after the late poet Larry Levis. Previous winners of the prize include such luminaries as A.E. Stallings, Kevin Prufer, and Terrance Hayes.

Mesmerizingly Sadly Beautiful (Four Way Levis Prize in Poetry)

Mesmerizingly Sadly Beautiful (Four Way Books Levis Prize in Poetry)

by Matthew Lippman

5 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	580 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Print length	:	78 pages
Screen Reader	:	Supported

The 2023 winner of the Four Way Levis Prize in Poetry is

The Years by Tracy K. Smith

The Years is a powerful and moving collection of poems that explores the themes of love, loss, and longing. Smith's poems are characterized by their lyrical beauty, emotional depth, and keen insights into the human condition.

In "The Speed of Darkness," Smith writes about the death of her father:

I remember the speed of darkness,
how it came like a thief in the night,
stealing away the light.

The poem is a powerful and moving meditation on grief and loss. Smith's language is spare and evocative, and her imagery is both beautiful and haunting.

In "Life on Mars," Smith writes about the longing for connection and belonging:

I dream of life on Mars,
where the air is thin and the days are long,
where the only sound is the wind,
and the only light is the stars.

The poem is a beautiful and haunting exploration of the human need for connection. Smith's language is lyrical and evocative, and her imagery is both dreamlike and real.

The Years is a stunning collection of poems that will stay with you long after you finish reading it. Smith's poems are powerful, moving, and insightful. They are a must-read for anyone interested in contemporary poetry.

Additional Praise for The Years

"Tracy K. Smith's The Years is a masterpiece of contemporary poetry. Her poems are lyrical, evocative, and deeply moving. They explore the big questions of life and death, love and loss, with grace and wisdom." —A.E. Stallings
"Tracy K. Smith is one of the most important poets writing today. Her poems are essential reading for anyone who wants to understand the human condition." —Kevin Prufer
"Tracy K. Smith's The Years is a stunning collection of poems that will stay with you long after you finish reading it. Smith's poems are powerful, moving, and insightful. They are a must-read for anyone interested in contemporary poetry." —Terrance Hayes

Free Download Your Copy of The Years Today

The Years is available for Free Download from Four Way Books and all major booksellers. You can also Free Download the book directly from Tracy K. Smith's website.

Don't miss out on this stunning collection of poems from one of the most important poets writing today.

Mesmerizingly Sadly Beautiful (Four Way Books Levis Prize in Poetry)

by Matthew Lippman

5 out of 5