Finalists announced for 2014 CBC Poetry Prize

Five writers from across Canada are vying for the 2014 English-language CBC Poetry Prize.

The finalists, who were selected from more than 2,500 submitted works of poetry, are:

Laurie D. Graham, a college teacher in London, Ontario and co-editor of literary publication Brick magazine. Her shortlisted poem is Settler Education.

Basma Kavanagh, a poet, author, and visual artist residing in Brandon, Manitoba. Her poem Codawas selected as a finalist.

Cynthia WoodmanKerkham, a poet and past winner of The Malahat Reviews Open Season Award. Her poem for Burnt Pot, Riverbank, Indifferent Skyis a contender.

David Martin, a part-time teacher and poet living in Calgary. His poem Tar Swanmade the shortlist.

Alessandra Naccarato, a writer, performer and MFA student at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver. Her poem Coyote Medicine/Medicine Coyoterounds out this years finalists.

Each shortlisted work will be available to read on the Canada Writes websiteand the public is encouraged to share their comments and vote for their favourite entry. The CBC Poetry Prize winner will be determined by this years jury panel (Roy Miki, Rachel Rose and Katherena Vermette), and will be announced on Monday, September 22.

The winning writer will receive a cash prize of $6,000 from the Canada Council for the Arts, see their work published in Air Canadas enRoute magazine, and be invited to The Banff Centre for a two-week writing residency. The other finalists will each receive $1,000.

The prize organizers including CBC Books- also revealed the five contenders for the corresponding French language prize, the Prix de poesie.

Previous recipients of the long-running prize include Michael Ondaatje, Carol Shields, Camilla Gibb, Shauna Singh Baldwin and Susan Musgrave.