January – James Dickey, composes a poem he reads at new United States President Jimmy Carter’s inaugural gala although not at the inauguration itself.July 11 – The English magazine Gay News is found guilty of blasphemous libel for publishing a homoerotic poem The Love That Dares to Speak Its Name by James Kirkup in a case (Whitehouse v. Lemon) brought by Mary Whitehouse's National Viewers and Listeners Association at the Old Bailey in London.Poet Sarah Kirsch leaves her native East Germany for the West.In Israeli the literary journal Keshet goes defunct, while Itton and Proza are founded.Listed by nation where the work was first published and again by the poet's native land, if different; substantially revised works listed separately:
Robert Adamson Cross The BorderJennifer Maiden, Mortal Details, RigmaroleLes Murray, Ethnic Radio, Angus & RobertsonJohn Tranter, Crying in Early Infancy: 100 Sonnets, Makar PressEarle Birney:The Damnation of Vancouver. Toronto: McClelland & Stewart. A satire on the modern city.Ghost in the Wheels: selected poems. Toronto: McClelland and Stewart.Roo Borson, Landfall, ISBN 0-920110-32-0 American-CanadianLeonard Cohen, Death of a Ladies' ManIsabella Valancy Crawford, Hugh and Ion, Glenn Clever ed. (Ottawa: Borealis). ISBN 978-0-919594-77-7Irving Layton, The Poems of Irving Layton. Eli Mandel ed. Toronto: McClelland and Stewart. Also published, with an introduction by Hugh Kenner, as The Selected Poems of Irving Layton. New York: New Directions, 1977. ISBN 0-8112-0642-4Irving Layton, The Covenant. Toronto: McClelland and Stewart.Dorothy Livesay, Right Hand Left Hand. Erin, ON: Porcepic.Pat Lowther, A Stone DiaryMiriam Mandel, Station 14. Edmonton: NeWest Press. ISBN 0-920316-08-5 ISBN 978-0920316085Charles Sangster, The Angel Guest and Other Poems and Lyrics, edited by Frank M. Tierney (Tecumseh)F. R. Scott, Poems of French Canada. Translated by F. R. Scott. Burnaby, B.C.: Blackfish Press.Raymond Souster, Extra Innings. Ottawa. Oberon Press.George Woodcock, Anima, or, Swann Grown Old. A Cycle of Poems by George Woodcock, Windsor, Ontario: Black Moss Press, CanadaR. Parthasarathy, Rough Passage, Delhi: Oxford University PressMeena Alexander, I Root My Name, Calcutta: Writers Workshop, India.Ireland
Samuel Beckett, Collected Poems in English and French, Irish native living in France and published in the United KingdomEiléan Ní Chuilleanáin: The Second Voyage, including "Deaths and Engines", Oldcastle: The Gallery PressHarry Clifton, The Walls of Carthage Oldcastle: The Gallery Press, ISBN 978-0-902996-51-9Paul Muldoon, Mules, Northern Ireland poet published in the United KingdomFrank Ormsby, A Store of Candles, including "Passing the Crematorium", Oldcastle: Gallery PressTom Paulin, A State of Justice, Northern Ireland poet published in the United KingdomNew Zealand
Bill Manhire, How to Take Off Your Clothes at the PicnicLauris Edmond, The Pear Tree: Poems R. Ensing, editor, Private Gardens, anthology of New Zealand women poetsKendrick Smithyman, Dwarf with a Billiard Cue, Auckland: Auckland University Press and Oxford University PressIan Wedde, Spells for Coming Out, New ZealandMafika Gwala, Jol'iinkomoSamuel Beckett, Collected Poems in English and French, Irish native living in France and published in the United KingdomKamau Brathwaite, Mother PoemJoseph Brodsky: Poems and Translations, Keele: University of Keele Russian-American (but published in the United Kingdom; see United States section for a book published there)Donald Davies, To Scorch or FreezeCarol Ann Duffy and Adrian Henri, Beauty and the BeastElaine Feinstein:Some Unease and Angels, HutchinsonSelected Poems, University Center, Michigan, Green River PressW. S. Graham, Implements in their PlacesMichael Hamburger, Real EstateAdrian Henri, City HedgesTed Hughes, Gaudete, derived from an abandoned film scenario, the book has elements of a poetic novel, narrative poem and verse playElizabeth Jennings, Consequently I RejoiceNorman MacCaig, Tree of StringsSorley MacLean, pen name of Somhairle MacGill-Eain, Spring Tide and Neap Tide [Reothairt is Contraigh], in Gaelic and EnglishPaul Muldoon, Mules, Northern Ireland poet published in the United KingdomTom Paulin, A State of Justice, Northern Ireland poet published in the United KingdomKathleen Raine, The Oval Portrait, and Other PoemsPeter Scupham, The HinterlandR. S. Thomas, The Way of ItAnthony Thwaite, A Portion for FoxesA. R. Ammons:Highgate RoadThe Selected Poems: 1951-1977The Snow PoemsJohn Ashbery, Houseboat DaysTed Berrigan:Clear The RangeNothing For YouJohn Berryman, Henry's Fate and Other Poems, 1967-1972, with 45 previously unpublished "Dream Songs" (posthumous)Joseph Payne Brennan, The Riddle (Fantome Press)Frank Bidart, The Book of the BodyElizabeth Bishop, Geography III, which includes "In the Waiting Room," "The Moose," and the villanelle, "One Art"Joseph Brodsky: A Part of Speech Russian-American (see United Kingdom section for a book published there)Robert Bly, This Body is Made of Camphor and GopherwoodBilly Collins, PokerfaceFrank Belknap Long, In Mayan SplendorMichael S. Harper, Images of Kin (1977), won the Melville-Cane Award from the Poetry Society of America; nominated for the National Book AwardRobert Lowell, Day by DayW. S. Merwin:The Compass Flower, New York: AtheneumTranslator, Vertical Poetry, poems by Roberto Juarroz; San Francisco: Kayak (reprinted in 1988; San Francisco: North Point Press)W. S. Merwin and J. Moussaieff Mason, translators, Sanskrit Love Poetry, New York: Columbia University Press (published in 1981 as Peacock's Egg: Love Poems from Ancient India, San Francisco: North Point Press)Michael Palmer, Without Music (Black Sparrow Press)Carl Rakosi, My Experience in ParnassusCharles Reznikoff, Poems 1937-1975 (published posthumously)Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, Prussian Nights, translated into English from the original Russian by Robert Conquest; first written in 1951; first published in 1974Gary Soto, The Elements of San JoaquinListed by language and often by nation where the work was first published and again by the poet's native land, if different; substantially revised works listed separately:
Vita Andersen, TryghedsnarkomanerJørgen Gustava Brandt, OpholdKlaus Høeck:Projekt Perseus, publisher: GyldendalUlrike Marie Meinhof, publisher: GyldendalVagn Lundbye, Digte 1977Jess Ornsbo, Digte uden arbejdeCharlotte Strandgaard, Naesten kun om kaerlighedDenise Boucher and Madeleine Gagnon, RetaillesClaude Gavreau, Ouvres créatrices complètes (posthumous)Michel Leclerc, La Traversée du réelPierre Nepveu, Épisodes, Montréal: l'HexagoneSamuel Beckett, Collected Poems in English and French, Irish native living in France and published in the United KingdomYves Bonnefoy, Rue TraversièreAndré du Bouchet, Air (1950–1953)Alain Delahaye, L'etre perduPhilippe Denis, Malgré la boucheRoger Giroux, published posthumously (died 1973):SL'arbre le Temps suivi le Lieu-Je et de LettreEugene Guilleveic, Du domaineEmmanuel Hocquard, Album d'images de la Villa HarrisGeorges Perec, AlphabetsJacques Roubaud, Autobiographie chapitre dixAlain Veinstein, Recherche des dispositions anciennesSarah Kirsch, Rückenwind, love poemsPaul Günter Krohn, Alle meine NamenHerbert Asmodi, Jokers FarewellGotthard de Beauclair, Zeit, ÜberzeitRolf Haufs, Die Geschwindigkeit eines einzigen TagesKarl Krowlow, Der Einfachheit halberNorbert Mecklenburg, Naturlyrik und Gesellschaft Stuttgart: Klett-Cotta (scholarship)Nathan Alterman, a posthumous book of poemsO. Bernstein, a book of poemsSimon Halkin, a book of the collected poems and worksHurvitz, a book of poemsShimshon Meltzer, a book of the collected poems and worksGabriel Preil, a book of poemsDalia Ravikovitch, a book of poemsYonatan Ratosh, a book of poemsShin Shalom, a book of poemsY. Wallach, a book of collected poemsMeir Wieseltier, a book of poemsAvot Yeshurun, a book of poemsZussman, a posthumous book of poemsIn each section, listed in alphabetical order by first name:
Mohan Upendra Thakur, Baji Uthal MuraliRajendra Kishore Panda:Satadru Anek, Cuttack: AgradootGhunakshara, Cuttack: Cuttack Students' StoreHari Daryani, Pala Pala Jo ParlauHarumal Isardas Sadarangani, CikhaParsram Rohra, O Nava Halaina VaraMehr Lal Soni Zia Fatehabadi Dhoop Aur Chandni (The Sunlight and the Moonlight) - Collection of poems published by Radha Krishan Sehgal, Bazm-e-Seemab, J 5/21,Rajouri Garden, New Delhi in 1977.K. Satchidanandan, Kavita, ("Poetry"); Malayalam-languageNilmani Phookan; Assamese-language:Golapi Jamur Lagna, Guwahati, Assam: Bani PrakashEditor, Kuri Satikar Asomiya Kavita, an anthology of modern Assamese poetry; Guwahati, Assam: Asom Prakashan ParishadSiddayya Puranika, Vacanodyana, modern vachana poetry, Kannada-languageBartolo Cattafi, Marzo e le sue idiGiovanni Guidici, Il male de creditoriTommaso Landolfi, Il tradimentoEugenio Montale, Tutte le poesie, publisher: Mondadori (enlarged edition published posthumously in 1984)Maria Luisa Spaziani, Transito con cateneHans Børli, Vinden ser aldri pa veviserneJan Magnus Bruheim, LyrespelarenGunvor Hofmo, Hva fanger nattenPeter R. Holm, I disse bilderStein Mehren, Det trettende stjernebildeSigmund Skard, Ord mot mørkretHelge Vatsend, Livets bokRuy de Moura Belo, Despeço-me da terra da alegria ("I Bid Farewell to the Land of Happiness")Herberto Helder, CobraAntónio Ramos Rosa, Boca IncompletaSophia Andresen, O Nome das CoisasFiama Brandão, Homenagem à LiteraturaLiberto Cruz, DistànciaVitorino Nemésio, Sapateia AçorianaCarlos Nejar, Árvore do mundoDécio PignatariPoesia / Pois é / Poesia (poems)Comunicacao poética (critical theory about poetry)Murilo Mendes, a posthumous collection of poems edited by João Cabral de Melo Neto, with a study by José Guilherme MerquiorArkadi Kuleshov, a book of poemsBella Akhmadulina:CandleDreams of GeorgiaAlexander Mezhirov, Очертания вещей ("Outline of things"), Russia, Soviet UnionValentin Sorokin, a book of poemsStepan Shchipachev, a book of poemsAleksandr Solzhenitsyn, Prussian Nights, narrative poem, much of it composed in his head when he was in concentration campsYevgeny Yevtushenko, a book of poems"[L]esser-known poets who attracted attention":Konstantin VanshenkinAnatoly ZhigulinRimma KazakovaViktor BokovMaya BorisovaStanslav ZolotsevFrancisco Brines, Insistencia en LuzbelMatilde Camus, Cancionero de Liébana ("Collection of verse of Liebana")José María Valverde, Ser de palabraMario Benedetti, La casa y el ladrillo ("The House and the Brick"), UruguayAntonio Cisneros, el libro de dios y de los húngaros (Peru)Jaime Sabines, Nuevo recuento de poemas (Mexico)Efraín Huerta, Circuito interior (Mexico)David Huerta, Cuadernos de noviembre (Mexico)David Hofshteyn, a two-volume selection of poemsJosl Lerner, Till Dawn Breaks, partly written in a German-Romanian death camp during World War IIChaim Maltinsky, My Mother's ResemblanceHirsh Osherovitch, Song in a LabyrinthShloyme Roitman, My Israel ShofarEfraim Roitman, The Earth SingsMotl Saktzier, With a Burned Pencil, about his experiences in Soviet gulagsM.M. Shaffir, Words of EndearmentAvrom Sutzkever, Poems from My DiaryRajzel Zychlinska, The Sun of NovemberStanisław Barańczak, Ja wiem, ze to niesluszne ("I Know It's Not Right"), Paris: Instytut Literacki; PolishChen Yi, Selected Poems; ChinaOdysseus Elytis, Signalbook (Σηματολόγιον); GreeceNdoc Gjetja, Qëndresa ("Center"); AlbaniaGozo Yoshimasu, river, Written in Cursive Characters; JapanLars Gustafsson, Sonetter; SwedenPer E. Rundquist, Men störst av allt är kärleken till vem; (SwedenPiotr Sommer, W krześle; PolandMarlene van Niekerk, Sprokkelster; South AfricaWen Wu-pin, Battle Songs of Tachai; ChinaYasuo Irisawa, Moon and Other Poems; JapanAwards and honors
Nobel Prize in Literature: Vicente Aleixandre (Spain)1977 Governor General's AwardsEric Gregory Award: Tony Flynn, Michael Vince, David Cooke, Douglas Marshall, Melissa MurrayQueen's Gold Medal for Poetry: Norman NicholsonAML Award for Poetry to Linda Sillitoe for "The Old Philosopher, Letter to a Four-Year-Old Daughter" and Arthur Henry King for "The Field Behind Holly House"Bollingen Prize: David IgnatowNational Book Award for Poetry: Richard Eberhart, Collected Poems, 1930-1976Pulitzer Prize for Poetry: James Merrill, Divine ComediesWalt Whitman Award: Lauren Shakely, Guilty BystanderFellowship of the Academy of American Poets: Louis CoxeBirth years link to the corresponding "[year] in poetry" article:
January 5 — Artur Adson, 87, Estonian poet and criticFebruary 2 — Rashid Hussein, 41, Palestinian Arabic poet in the United States, in fireApril 11 — Jacques Prévert, 77, FrenchSeptember 12 — Robert Lowell, 60, American, from a heart attackNovember 30 — Miloš Crnjanski, 84, Serbian poet and novelistDecember 18 — Louis Untermeyer, 92, American author, poet, anthologist and editorDecember 30 — Katherine C. Biddle, 87, AmericanAlso:Elizabeth Daryush, daughter of Robert Bridges (born 1885), EnglishGitaujali Badruddin, 16, Indian girl poet 