Almeder receives multiple accolades
Melanie Almeder, Roanoke College’s John P. Fishwick Professor of English, has recently been honored with a trifecta of recognition that included mention in a local magazine, an esteemed poetry award, and selection for a Greek poetry residency.
Almeder’s whirlwind of accolades began in February, when she was included in The Roanoker magazine’s list of 20 Extraordinary Women Over 50. The piece mentioned her many awards over the years, including Virginia’s Teacher of the Year, Roanoke College teaching awards and literary awards.
In March, she was awarded the 2024 Zócalo Public Square Poetry Prize for her piece, “Coyote Hour,” which spans a single summer in southern Maine. The prize is awarded annually to the U.S. writer whose work best evokes a sense of place. Almeder received a $1,000 prize and was honored at Zócalo’s annual Book Prize event on June 13.
In an interview for the Zócalo website, Almeder said “Coyote Hour” is set in an area of Maine that is special to her because her parents have lived there and been active in conservation there for many years. “It’s a place that shows up in dreams and poems and is a touchstone for so many other things,” she said.
Read the poem and Almeder’s interview here. She can be seen reading her poem near the start of this Zócalo video of the event.
Finally, Almeder was one of only two poets from around the world selected to participate in A Poet’s Agora, a two-week poetry residency in Athens, Greece.
From May 19-June 2, she was housed in a neoclassical home in the city’s center. During the residency, she attended cultural events, such as the Literary Salon organized by Sudha Nair of Athens Insider; conducted research at the University of Athens' Gennadius Library for inspiration for a series of poems that will appear in Agora's next international anthology; took part in a poetry workshop for women asylum seekers; met contemporary Greek poets; and participated in a poetry and translation group.
"I am grateful to directors Karine Ancellin and Angela Lyras for this amazing, dynamic, and inspiring residency," she said.
“Coyote Hour,” along with the series of poems Almeder wrote at A Poet’s Agora, will be included in her third book of poems.
