Does anyone know of any examples of good/enduring published poetry being created in English by a poet for whom it is not his/her first language? I'm useless at languages and find fluency in more than one impressive.

There are, regularly, good poems on WOL by overseas members, but it is published poetry by poets with a wider reputation which I had in mind.

George Szirtes (Hungarian)Although he did come to this country when he was 8 years old.

I suspect if you investigated African poetry, you'd find a few who are at the very least bilingual.

Can't remember her name off the top of my head but that lady who won the Wigan poetry slam a year or so ago was pretty good. She was either from Asia or middle east and I don't think English was her first language - you'd never have guessed though. Julian would remember the name.

Don't know if she's been published - but that word can cover a myriad of meanings anyway...

Thanks Steven. Remarkable stuff. I especially enjoyed Canzone.

Wigan poetry slam a year ago.....? Wasn't that Louis Fazackerley?

Fatima Al Matar...?

Correct, Francine. She has had a collection published. It was reviewed by Cynthia
http://www.writeoutloud.net/public/blogentry.php?blogentryid=29048

That's the one - you have a good memory Francine! This is her profile but she doesn't have much on there and she's removed the one I liked.

http://www.writeoutloud.net/profiles/fatimaalmatar

It's hard to know whose poetry will be enduring. Getting it published by a proper publisher is one thing, getting people to endure it is another :)

Caesar et erat forti, pompey adsum iam: caesar sic in omnibus, pompey sic intram.