Lexington Poet Recognized

A Lexington poet is among the five finalists for a National Book Award. Nikky Finney's Head Off & Split has been recognized as one of the five most notable books of poetry for 2011 by the National Book Awards committee. The collection's name comes from a common phrase Finney heard as child at the fish markets in South Carolina.

Finney, who teaches at the University of Kentucky English Department, is a founding member of the Affrilachian Poets, a writing collective based in Lexington.

The National Book Awards winners will be announced November 16th in New York.