Several weeks back, I mentioned that Seamus Heaney had been nominated for the Forward Prize, Britain”s foremost prize for contemporary poetry. The nomination sparked a tiny tempest in a teapot about recognized and lauded authors being in competition for such a rich prize. Heaney”s book of verse, District and Circle was posted on the 12 title short list for the Forward Prize – but the £ 10,000 prize was awarded to another Scots poet, Robin Robertson, for his collection of poetry, Swithering.

It”s a second Forward Prize for Robertson, whose first collection of poetry, A Painted Field, was awarded the 1997 Forward Poetry Prize. That book was also chosen for the Saltire Society Scottish First Book of the Year Award and the Aldeburgh Festival Poetry Prize. Swithering has also collected honors as The Poetry Book Society Choice for Spring 2006, and is shortlisted for the T.S. Eliot prize.

Robertson”s poetry has been called “intensely lyrical”, and “meticulously worked”, a refreshing thing to hear about a poet”s work in these days of free-anything-goes verse. Jason Rotstein, writing at bookslut, refers to Robertson as “one of respected poets in the world”.

Robertson also serves on the board of the Griffin Trust for Excellence in Poetry, which annually awards the $100,000 Griffin Poetry Prize.