Poets & Writers has awarded Henri Cole the $50,000 2012 Jackson Poetry Prize.

Cole has published eight poetry collections. His 2004 title, Middle Earth, was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in poetry. Cole also serves on the faculty at Ohio University and as the poetry editor of The New Republic.

Here’s more from the release (PDF link): “[This] prize is given annually to honor an American poet of exceptional talent who deserves wider recognition…Mr. Cole was selected by three esteemed judges-the poets Louise Glück, Marilyn Hacker and James Tate. There was no application process. Poets were nominated by a panel of their peers who remain anonymous.”