It's wonderful to see Karen's writing life flourishing after her time at King's. We're all extremely proud to see her work recognised with this prestigious award.
Dr Jon Day, Reader in English and Creative Writing
02 June 2026
Creative Writing alumna wins John Pollard International Poetry Prize
Karen Downs-Barton (Creative Writing PhD) has received the 2026 John Pollard Foundation International Poetry Prize for her debut poetry collection Minx.
Downs-Barton’s collection portrays a multi-racial Romani family in a world where traditional ways are being lost, and wider society is unwelcoming and critical. Through the lens of childhood, the poems explore ideas of belonging and take an experimental approach to form and narrative.
The prize is awarded annually to a debut collection of poetry in the English language. Valued at €10,000, the prize is sponsored by the John Pollard Foundation and administered by the Trinity Oscar Wilde Centre in the School of English at Trinity College Dublin.
Karen Downs-Barton’s life in poetry
The writer or text that sparked your love of poetry
My mother gave me Come Hither edited by Walter de la Mare when I was a child. No matter where I ended up the anthology was a constant, somewhere for me to escape into.
A great collection for getting into poetry
You absolutely can't beat The Poem and the Journey by Ruth Padel and The Poem is You by Stephanie Burt. If I were on a desert island I'd have to take them with me.
The poet, collection or book you always go back to
Edwin Morgan's Collected Poems. He was a form genius with a sense of humour to boot.
A new poet, collection or book you’re currently most excited about
I get excited by each new book I open but I'd have to mention Goyle, Chert, Mire by Jean Sprackland. I've just finished it and am about to dive right back in.
Best modern British poet
Sarah Howe would have to be up there. I'm biased of course as she was my supervisor at King's and is now my editor at Chatto but it's my faith in her creativity and understanding of poetry that first led me to King's.
The poem you wish you’d written
‘Standing Female Nude’ by Carol Ann Duffy. I was an artist’s model and wanted to write about my experiences but I think that poem holds a standard.
The qualities that make a great poem/poet
Layers. For me, a poem has to have layers. I want to meet the poem and its writer on different levels, to go on a journey into the world they create and feel it has depth.
A great collection or book for taking with you on holiday
Any of the books mentioned above would be great reading, Sarah Howe's Foretokens or if you don't mind the dark side of life Diane Suess's Frank Sonnets will take you down risky alleys and to the underbelly of things.