[10/15/26] O'Fallon, Kathy: Proof of Life

Passager Books, paperback

Publication Date: October 15, 2026

Publisher Marketing: 

Proof of Life, winner of the 2026 Henry Morgenthau III First Book Poetry Prize for a poet 70 or older, is a poetry collection true to its title. Love, trauma, family, climate change, self-discovery and more ignite Kathy O' Fallon's poems.

"For me, the phrase, 'proof of life, '" says the poet, "evokes the danger of life being taken away, the risks we take to prove we are alive, and the hope of an afterlife. Poetry is a voice, a lyrical representation of life, a lifeline in my case, from the most personal to the most universal. A calm amidst the storm."

Renowned poet and Morgenthau contest judge Alicia Ostriker calls the book, "Philosophical, conversational, sharply observant. Proof of Life surges through a lifetime of energy, experience, and wisdom--everywhere a pleasure to read."