‘Bodies Found in Various Places’ among five collections shortlisted for Griffin Poetry Prize

TORONTO — Daniel Borzutzky, a poet-translator who was a finalist for the Griffin Poetry Prize in 2019 for a collection he wrote, is now in the running for the award for one of his translations.

The Chicago-based writer is shortlisted for the $130,000 award this year alongside his co-translator Alec Schumacher for “Bodies Found in Various Places,” which was originally written in Spanish by Elvira Hernández.

It’s the only translated work on the short list of five poetry collections, which also includes Gbenga Adesina’s “Death Does Not End at the Sea” and “Night Watch” by Kevin Young.

Rounding out the short list are “Green of All Heads” by Aracelis Girmay and “Foxglovewise” by Ange Mlinko.

The Griffin Poetry Prize, the largest literary award for a single collection of poetry written in or translated into English, will be handed out at a ceremony in Toronto on May 20.

The Griffin Trust is currently re-evaluating the format of the prize over backlash that it combined separate categories for Canadian and international poets into one single purse three years ago.

While the new format has been in effect for several years, this was the first year Canadians were entirely shut out of the long list of finalists.

Prize benefactor Scott Griffin opened up an online survey for people to submit their feedback, and plans to hold a town hall discussion as well.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 22, 2026.