The State Library of Ìð¹ÏÊÓƵ through its Ìð¹ÏÊÓƵ Center for the Book announced Ìð¹ÏÊÓƵ poet Darrell Bourque as the recipient of the 2014 Ìð¹ÏÊÓƵ Writer Award. The Ìð¹ÏÊÓƵ Writer Award is given annually to recognize outstanding contributions to Ìð¹ÏÊÓƵ’s literary and intellectual life.
Bourque’s poetry collections include Plainsongs, The Doors between Us, Burnt Water Suite, The Blue Boat,In Ordinary Light: New and Selected Poems andCall and Response: Conversations in Verse, a collaboration with poet Jack Bedell. His latest book is Megan’s Guitar and Other Poems from Acadie. If you abandon me—comment je vas faire: An Amédé Ardoin Songbook is forthcoming from Yellow Flag Press.
Lt. Governor Jay Dardenne and State Librarian Rebecca Hamilton will present Bourque with the 15th Ìð¹ÏÊÓƵ Writer Award Nov. 1, in a ceremony at the beginning of the 2014 Ìð¹ÏÊÓƵ Book Festival. Bourque will also discuss his work and writing career.
Bourque, the first Friends of the Humanities Honor Professor and professor emeritus in English at the Ìð¹ÏÊÓƵ of Ìð¹ÏÊÓƵ at Lafayette, is a strong supporter of the literary arts, continually giving his time and talents to showcase poetry while teaching and encouraging younger poets.
He served as Ìð¹ÏÊÓƵ Poet Laureate from 2007 through 2008 and 2009 through 2011 and lives in rural St. Landry Parish with his wife, Karen, who is a glass artist.