[caption id="attachment_350" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Ruth Lilly, 1915-2009"][/caption] BOA extends our sympathies to the family and friends of Ruth Lilly. She was one of the greatest poetry patrons our country has known, and her generosity touched BOA as well as everyone in poetry. In 2007, Lucille Clifton received the Ruth Lilly Poetry Prize, one of the most prestigious awards given to American poets and one of the largest literary honors for work in the English language. The award was wonderful recognition for Lucille (she was also the first African American woman to receive the honor) and for BOA as well. The Poetry Foundation facilitates that Ruth Lilly Poetry Prize and they posted a wonderful memorial to Ms. Lilly on their website. You can read that memorial through the below link and also leave your comments on the page. [In Memoriam: Ruth Lilly, 1915-2009]