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Joshua Poteat

ジョシュア・ポティート

Joshua Poteat

Profile

Gender
Male
Born
Hampstead, North Carolina
Nationality
American
Languages
English
Residence History
Hampstead, North Carolina → Richmond, Virginia

Career

Occupations
poet, writer, artist, copy editor/proofreader
Active Years
1993-
Affiliations
Virginia Commonwealth University (Visiting Writer), The College of William & Mary (Donaldson Writer in Residence, 2011–2012), The Martin Agency (copy editor/proofreader)
Influenced By
Campbell McGrath, Mary Oliver

Education

University of North Carolina Wilmington
College of Arts and Sciences / Department of English
Degree: B.A.
Period: 1989–1993
Year of Graduation: 1993
Country: United States
Bachelor of Arts in English
Virginia Commonwealth University
School of the Arts / MFA in Writing program
Degree: M.F.A.
Period: 1995–1997
Year of Graduation: 1997
Country: United States
Master of Fine Arts in Writing

Awards

Anhinga Poetry Prize
2006
Work: Ornithologies
Organization: Anhinga Press
Result: Winner
Poetry Society of America National Chapbook Prize
2004
Work: Meditations
Organization: Poetry Society of America
Result: Winner
National Poetry Series
2015
Work: The Regret Histories
Organization: National Poetry Series / Harper Perennial
Result: Winner / Publication
Carole Weinstein Prize in Poetry (final award)
2015
Organization: Carole Weinstein Prize
Result: Winner

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

Meditations

2004 Poetry

A chapbook that won the Poetry Society of America National Chapbook Prize; noted for its lyricism and close attention to detail.

natureintrospectionmemory

Ornithologies

2006 Poetry

Winner of the Anhinga Poetry Prize; a collection with many poems focused on birds and nature, rich in imagistic metaphors.

birdsnatureobservation

Illustrating the Machine That Makes the World: From J.G. Heck's 1851 Pictorial Archive of Nature and Science

2009 Poetry

Published in the Virginia Quarterly Review Contemporary Poets Series; poems that reference scientific imagery and historical sources to render a view of the world.

sciencehistoryreconstruction of images

For the Animal

2013 Poetry (chapbook)

A chapbook from Diagram/New Michigan Press exploring animality, instinct, and corporeality in poems.

animalitybodyinstinct

The Scenery of Farewell

2014 Poetry (chapbook)

A chapbook published by Diode Editions; interweaves images of landscape with themes of parting and memory.

farewelllandscapememory

The Regret Histories

2015 Poetry

Published through the National Poetry Series; a collection treating the past, regret, and personal history, which received critical attention.

regrethistoryself-reflection

Bibliography

  • Meditations (2004)
  • Ornithologies (2006)
  • Illustrating the Machine That Makes the World (2009)
  • For the Animal (2013)
  • The Scenery of Farewell (2014)
  • The Regret Histories (2015)

Style & Themes

Literary Style
lyric, imagistic stylecareful, detail-driven description
Recurring Motifs
birdslightmachine imagerymemory and regret

Legacy

Joshua Poteat is a well-regarded contemporary American poet known for nature-focused, imagistic work. He has regional influence centered in Virginia and has been recognized through prizes and fellowships.

Academic Societies

  • Poetry Society of America

Quotes

  • It is a lyricism that reminds me of James Wright ... gathering me to him by the detail of some earnest and often terrible beauty, in the easy language of our country.
    Source: Mary Oliver (judge for the Poetry Society of America Chapbook Award) (2004)
  • Poteat's poems are so mysterious, eloquent and downright powerful, they may ruin you with beauty.
    Source: Melanie Drane (ForeWord Magazine) (2006)

Trivia

  • In addition to poetry, he makes light boxes and ink transfer/mixed-media collages.
  • Collaborated with designer Roberto Ventura on light- and text-based installations exhibited regionally.
  • Recipient of the final Carole Weinstein Prize in Poetry in 2015.