The American Academy of Arts and Letters distributes its 2009 awards at a ceremony today, and Marie Ponsot is receiving an Academy Award in Literature.

Marie has contributed frequently to Commonweal as a poet and critic, and she was poetry editor of the magazine from 1979 to 1985 (sharing the job with current poetry editor Rosemary Deen).

According to the Academy’s press release, “Seven Academy Awards in Literature of $7500 each are given annually to honor exceptional accomplishment in any genre.” This year’s recipients are Rilla Askew, Michael Collier, Tracy Letts, D. Nurkse, Marie Ponsot, George Saunders, and Susan Stewart.

The Poetry Foundation Web site is a great resource for reading, and even listening to, Marie Ponsot’s work (for example, this recording of Marie reading and discussing her sonnet “Winter”). And here is a sample from the pages of Commonweal, originally published in our December 1, 2006 issue:

* * *

A Rune, Interminable

Low above the moss

A sprig of scarlet berries

Soon eaten or blackened

Tells time.

Go to a wedding

as to a funeral:

bury the loss.

Go to a funeral

as to a wedding:

marry the loss.

Go to a coming

as to a going:

unhurrying.

Time is winter-green.

Seeds keep time.

Time so kept carries us

across, to where

no time is lost.