Creative writing lecturer’s powerful poem wins prestigious Forward Prize
A renowned writer and creative writing lecturer at Manchester Met has won the prestigious Forward Prize for best poem for her evocative work on grief and Caribbean rituals.
Libation tells of loss, funeral wakes and how ancient traditions are handed down, and was praised by judges as handling complex and emotivethemes ‘with tenderness and love’.
Originally published in The Poetry Review magazine, Libation was recognised by The Forward Prizes for Poetry 2023 at their awards ceremony in Leeds last night (16 October).
It is the second time Booker has scooped the award, and she has now become the first woman to win Best Single Poem twice.
Speaking of Caribbean customs and ancestral alters, Booker’s Libation also addresses black on black violence and the act of ‘libation’ – a drink poured in honour of the dead – that young people re-enact, despite not fully understanding its meaning.
Commenting on the writing, world-renowned poet and Forward Prize 2023 judge Chris Redmond said: “Malika’s piece reads like a drink. A slow pour of linguistic libation that funnels the reader down into the depths of ritual, grief, culture and society. It works hard to tread so lightly and holds all of this with tenderness and love.”
Booker, said: “I feel honoured, grateful and overwhelmed to be awarded this prize. Being judged and recognised by my peers means so much.
“I wouldn’t be where I am today without such a strong community of poets who’ve invested in me, and it was inspiring to see so many of the poets I’ve personally mentored at the ceremony.
“I wrote Libation during lockdown when funeral rituals weren’t possible. It got me thinking about my ancestors and how young black boys today recreate the ritual of throwing alcohol on the ground at wakes. The epiphany for me was acknowledging black on black violence and the fragility of life.”
Booker joins previous Manchester Writing School Forward Prize winners Professor Carol Ann Duffy (1993), Professor Michael Symmons Roberts (2013) and Kim Moore (2022).
The Forward Prizes for Poetry are the most widely coveted awards for new poetry published in the UK and Ireland. They honour excellence in contemporary poetry published in the UK and Ireland across four categories, with the £1,000 prize for Best Single Poem awarded to the best poem from magazines and competitions.
