The Cecil Hemley Memorial Award is given once a year to a member of the Poetry Society of America "for a lyric poem that addresses a philosophical or epistemological concern."^[1]

The award was established by Jack Stadler, the former Treasurer of the PSA, and his late wife, Ralynne Stadler. Cecil Hemley was a poet and a translator from the Yiddish.^[2][3]

Each winner receives a $500 prize.^[1]

Winners

• 2001: Angie Estes, Judge: Lynn Emanuel
• 2002: Andrew Zawacki, Judge: Wayne Koestenbaum
• 2003: Lynn Veach Sadler, Judge:
• 2004: Fritz Ward, Judge: Susan Stewart
• 2005: G. C. Waldrep, Judge: Alice Notley
• 2006: Rusty Morrison, Judge: Cal Bedient
• 2007: Yerra Sugarman, Judge: Michael Palmer
• 2008: Brian Henry, Judge: Norma Cole
• 2009: Melissa Kwasny, Judge: Mei-mei Berssenbrugge
• 2010: Karla Kelsey, Judge: Forrest Gander