Todd Hearon, English instructor since 2003, has been selected as one of 50 poets for the Best New Poets 2007: 50 Poems from Emerging Writers collection.

The annual Best New Poets, published by University of Virginia Press, is in its third year of publication. Seen as a launching ground for emerging poets – those who have not yet published a full-length book of poems – the book has established itself with critics and poetry readers. The series is edited by Jeb Livingood. This year's judge was Natasha Trethewey.

According to the University of Virginia Press website, "The work of the fifty writers represented here provides the best perspective available on the continuing vitality of poetry as it's being practiced today."

Each year, Best New Poets welcomes poetry nominations from literary magazines and writing programs. Hearon was nominated by Harvard Review, which first published his poem, "In the Garden," in fall 2006. Hearon was unaware of his nomination until he was announced a winner. "That was a surprise," says the poet. “A pleasant one.”  The publication also supports an open competition, where poets present their own works. Last year, more than 2000 poems were considered for publication.

In a recent profile in The Exeter Bulletin, Hearon reflected on the process of poetic composition, how it works for him:

The poem itself will tell you when it is finished.  The irritation that was perhaps its genesis will not be so much allayed as contained, having found its proper form. The disequilibrium will have found a tenuous balance, Frost’s “momentary stay against confusion.” The poem looks back at you from its world and says, “Move on.”   

Read the full profile…

Interested in learning more?

Read the profile of Todd Hearon and other Exeter poets, from The Exeter Bulletin, Winter 2007...

Learn more about Exeter's English department…

Find out more about Exeter's faculty…

Read about Hearon's previous publications…