Richard Kenney was born in Glens Falls, New York, in 1948 and is the author of three previous books of poetry: "The Evolution of" "the Flightless Bird," "Orrery," and "The Invention of the Zero," In 1987 he received a John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Fellowship. He is currently professor of English at the University of Washington and lives with his family in Port Townsend, Washington.