Irwin is the author of nine collections of poetry, including "A Passion According to Green" (2017), "American Urn: Selected Poems" (1987-2014), and "Bright Hunger" (2004). Recognition for his work includes The Nation / Discovery Award, two Colorado Book Awards, four Pushcart Prizes, the James Wright Poetry Award, and fellowships from the Fulbright, Lilly, and the NEA. “Monster: Distortion, Abstraction, and Originality in Contemporary American Poetry” is forthcoming in 2017.