Swanson Emerging Poet Fellowship

Announcing Our 2026 Fellow

WFOP is delighted to announce this year’s Swanson Emerging Poet Fellow, Rose Menyon Heflin. Nature and its related environmental justice issues influence both her writing and visual art.

Rose Menyon Heflin is a poet, writer, and visual artist, and although she has been writing since childhood, she only really started publishing in 2021. Now, with over 250 poems published in outlets spanning five continents, her poetry has evolved to include formal, free verse, performance, experimental, and prose. It often features environmental, feminist, or other justice-related themes. She has also published a few creative nonfiction, fiction, and journalistic pieces. Her work has won numerous state and national awards and been nominated for a Pushcart Prize. Still, she is most proud of her more unorthodox accomplishments: two of her haiku were published in a gumball machine; another haiku was used to teach economics to 100+ students at Japan’s Chuo University—to great fanfare, apparently; one of her poems was choreographed and danced; a poem inspired a painting; and some of her poetry was performed by Washington, DC’s Rose Theatre Company.

Readers Esteban Colon, Charles Payne, and Adrienne Wallner called Rose’s poetry “bold and profound,” “extremely compelling,” and noting it has “a lingering resonance that invites you to read it again and again.” Rose is excited about outreach opportunities, noting how she has engaged with all learners of all ages, in many different contexts, integrating art, science, and language. 

During her fellowship year, Rose will join the spring WFOP conference “Poetry of Belonging,” and visit Shake Rag Alley to offer poetry outreach (details coming soon!)

The Swanson Emerging Poet Fellowship provides a $750 honorarium, a 5-day residency at Shake Rag Alley Center for the Arts, and a membership through WFOP with mentorship opportunities.

Applying for the 2027 Fellowship

Wisconsin Fellowship of Poets has established a Swanson Emerging Poet Fellowship in honor of Richard Swanson, beloved member and former secretary of WFOP.

Description of Award

The emerging poet will receive a $750 honorarium and a 5-day residency at Shake Rag Alley Center for the Arts located in Mineral Point, WI. Working with Shake Rag Alley staff, the Swanson Emerging Poet Fellow will provide a public outreach program, which can include a workshop, reading, or visit to schools or another community organization. Additionally, the Wisconsin Fellowship of Poets will provide mentorship, a one-year membership, and opportunities to contribute to WFOP programming.

Qualifications

In addition to being a Wisconsin resident, the fellow must meet 2 out of the 3 following criteria:

  • No full-length poetry book

  • Between ages 18-45

  • No MFA or PhD in Poetry or Creative Writing

Applications Now Open

Applications will re-open in Fall 2026.

Questions?

If you have questions, please contact Adrienne Wallner at asjwriter@gmail.com.