A Cincinnati poet is earning international recognition.
Former Cincinnati Poet Laureate Manuel Iris won a gold medal at the International Latino Book Awards for his bilingual poetry collection, "Toda la tierra es un jardín de monstruos."
According to a press release, the collection, whose title translates to "The Whole Earth Is a Garden of Monsters,"was published by the University of Arizona Press earlier this year after winning the 2025 Ambroggio Prize, which recognizes book-length poetry manuscripts written in Spanish and translated into English.
The book tells the parallel stories of a contemporary Mexican migrant worker named Juan Coyoc, later known as Juan Domínguez, and Renaissance painter Hieronymus Bosch while exploring "geographical, historical,
cultural, and linguistic" borders, according to the release.
Iris co-translated the collection with fellow Cincinnati poet and translator Kevin C. McHugh. The Academy of American Poets praised the duo's translation for its "quality and fluidity."
The award adds to a growing list of honors for Iris, who served as Cincinnati's poet laureate from 2018 to 2020. He has also served as a writer-in-residence at the Cincinnati & Hamilton County Public Library and Thomas More University and teaches at DePaul Cristo Rey High School in Clifton.
Iris has authored six poetry collections, including "Cuaderno de los sueños," which won the 2009 Mérida National Poetry Award. His honors also include the Rodulfo Figueroa Regional Award for Poetry, theOhioana Readers' Choice Award and the 2025 Ambroggio Prize.
Iris is also a member of Mexico's National System of Art Creators.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Former Cincinnati poet laureate wins international book award
