Shaina Phenix has been named a recipient of the 2026 Ruth Lilly and Dorothy Sargent Rosenberg Poetry Fellowship, an honor she embraces at a pivotal moment in her career. This year's selection marks her final eligibility to apply for the fellowship after two previous attempts. Phenix expressed that this application felt distinct, noting her growth and maturity as a poet.
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Reflecting on her early work, Phenix indicated that she often mimicked other poets' styles, which limited her development of a unique voice. Initially, her poems posed questions without articulating them fully. Now, she feels a greater confidence in both questioning and answering within her poetry, stating, "I have pillars in my work now."
Love is a significant theme in Phenix's writing, influenced by bell hooks's definition of love as a commitment to nurture spiritual growth. Despite advice from peers and mentors to avoid the subject, Phenix is dedicated to making her exploration of love feel authentic and multifaceted. She is aware that conveying the complexity of love on the page presents challenges but remains committed to expressing what resonates with depth.
Her growth is attributed to the guidance of influential figures in her life, including poets Aracelis Girmay, Tina Chang, Carmen Giménez, Erika Meitner, John Murillo, and R.A. Villanueva, which shaped her understanding of poetry as a viable career. Early exposure to slam poetry also played a crucial role in her development, emphasizing performance aspects like delivery and tone in connection with the written word.
Phenix considers her responsibility to represent and advocate for Black women and femmes in her work, particularly as she witnesses the gentrification of her neighborhood in Harlem. She aims to document her surroundings while also allowing space for more personal narratives that reflect her desires and experiences. This shift towards personal storytelling is reflected in her forthcoming collection, "An Altar for Firstborn Girls," which explores her familial duties and the pressure of being the eldest daughter.
She articulates a need to reclaim her identity beyond traditional caretaker roles, stating, "I need people. I need love." Phenix acknowledges that her work continues to address the same audience but is evolving to encompass a broader understanding of herself. She is encouraged by her family's pride in her achievements and anticipates their support for her new collection, which aims to share her deeper self beyond previous expectations.
Zachary Jones served as the summer 2026 Grants and Awards Intern at the Poetry Foundation, supported by the Master of Arts Program in the Humanities at the University of Chicago.