Brandon Kilbourne has been awarded the 25th annual Cave Canem Prize, which recognizes exceptional manuscripts by unpublished Black poets.
Kilbourne, a former artist-in-residence at LSU’s School of Veterinary Medicine, received the honor for his upcoming poetry collection, Natural History. The book, set for publication by Graywolf Press in the fall of 2025, explores the connection between the natural world and the horrors of slavery and colonialism, beginning with the trans-Atlantic slave trade.
A native of Houma and raised in Lafayette, Kilbourne holds a Ph.D. in evolutionary biology.
In a statement, Kilbourne expressed his excitement about the award, noting, “As someone whose formal training was in the sciences and not in creative writing, winning the Cave Canem Prize feels unbelievably special.” He also highlighted the shared themes of awe, curiosity, and observation that link both poetry and science, emphasizing how these fields can complement each other.
