W.S. Merwin, a Maui resident, has been awarded the Bobbitt Prize from the Library of Congress for his most recent book of poetry, "Present Company," published by Copper Canyon Press. The $10,000 cash award honors the best book of poetry published by an American during the previous two years. The prize will be formally awarded at a ceremony at the Library of Congress on Oct. 31.

Merwin, called "one of the great poets of our age" by the Los Angeles Times Book Review, has received nearly every major literary award, including the Pulitzer Prize and, most recently, the 2005 National Book Award for his selected poems, "Migration."