US poet heads prize shortlist

Billy Collins is the American Poet Laureate

American Poet Laureate Billy Collins is among those shortlisted for the TS Eliot Poetry Prize 2003.

The award, given by the Poetry Book Society (PBS) which was founded by Eliot in 1953, is regarded as one of the most prestigious in poetry.

Collins has been nominated for his anthology Nine Horses.

Others on the list include Don Paterson, who previously won the prize in 1997, and two women, Jean Sprackland and Lavinia Greenlaw.

TS Eliot Prize 2003 Shortlist Billy Collins Nine Horses John F Deane Manhandling The Deity Ian Duhig The Lammas Hireling Lavinia Greenlaw Minsk Jamie McKendrick Ink Stone Bernard O'Donoghue Outliving Don Paterson Landing Light Jacob Polley The Brink Christopher Reid For and After Jean Sprackland Hard Water

The prize was inaugurated in 1993 to mark the 40th anniversary of the society and honour its founding poet.

It has been described by UK Poet Laureate Andrew Motion as "the prize most poets want to win".

Previous recipients have included Ted Hughes, Hugo Williams and Anne Carson.

The winner will receive £10,000, in a ceremony to take place in central London on 19 January.