I’m beside myself with gratitude today—Paisley Rekdal, guest editor of the 2020 edition of Best American Poetry, has selected my poem “Customer Loyalty Program,” initially published in Kenyon Review and then later in my first collection, Disappearing, Inc., to be included in this year’s anthology.
It’s not an exaggeration to say that being in BAP was a career goal (as was winning an NEA grant, in fact), and I’m overwhelmed with gratitude. Not just for the KR editors who published the piece, David Lehman and Paisley for selecting it for this year’s anthology, and those who have sent me kind notes of congratulations—but for every poet I’ve written alongside and shared work with, every friend that has encouraged me to be better and not to give up when the going was hard, and to everyone who has read and supported my work. It feels surreal, and a little ridiculous, to be where I am now, and I’m determined not to take it for granted.
Best American Poetry 2020 will publish this Fall; I hope you’ll check it out, and I’m so excited to see the other poets and poems I will have the honor of sharing a tome with.
Brandon Amico 