Ballard Spahr Prize 2023 Winner: Poems

A History of Half-Birds, a debut collection of poems by Caroline Harper New, was selected for the 2023 Ballard Spahr Prize for Poetry. It explores the aftermath of history's most powerful forces, such as devotion, disaster, and us, and measures the line between love and ruin. New's poems delve into dark places to trace how violence born of devotion manifests in human relationships and connections to the natural and animal worlds. The collection combines tenderness and brutality, featuring concepts such as the anglerfish, acidity, and limestone. It also contains strange truths, such as ancient fish carving their shape in a mountain peak and a mother wearing a lifejacket in the bathtub.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 96 pages
Publication date: 29 February 2024
Publisher: Milkweed Editions

Selected by Maggie Smith for the prestigious 2023 Ballard Spahr Prize for Poetry, this remarkable debut collection of poems delves into the profound aftermath of history's most influential forces: devotion, disaster, and us.

Rooted in the vibrant Gulf Coast, A History of Half-Birds explores the delicate balance between love and ruin. Part poet, part anthropologist, Caroline Harper New ventures into the darkest corners of existence—a cave, a womb, a hurricane—to unravel the intricate connections between violence born of devotion and our human relationships, as well as our profound connections to the natural and animal worlds. Throughout these pages, tenderness intertwines with brutality, as a deer consumes a baby bird, a lover restrains another. New boldly proclaims, "I promised a love poem," before guiding us through the fascinating world of the anglerfish, known for its captivating ability to attract both mates and prey with the same lure.

In her exceptional voice, familiar concepts take on a touch of the fantastical. A woman savors the earth's acidity, buries lemons and pennies for balance. Limestone "sucks the sea into little demitasse," while hyacinths "sip the sun / black." A solitary elephant ventures into the remote wilderness of rural Georgia, never to be seen again. However, what truly sets News's work apart is the profound truths revealed through its strangeness, such as the ancient fish who carved their shape into a mountain peak, or a mother who wears a lifejacket in the bathtub.

Crafted with News's voracious mind and carried by her unmatched lyricism, A History of Half-Birds is a breathtaking exploration of the beastly impulses of love—both the things it cherishes and the destruction it unleashes. This collection is a testament to the power of poetry to illuminate the complexities of human experience and shed light on the enduring echoes of history.

Weight: 146g
Dimension: 141 x 216 x 10 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781571315304