Susan Rich
American poet
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Susan Rich (born 1959)[1] is an American poet, editor, and human rights activist[2] based in Seattle, Washington. She is the author of six poetry collections and is a recipient of the PEN USA Award for Poetry.[3]
Harvard University (MEd)
University of Oregon (MFA)
Susan Rich | |
|---|---|
| |
| Born | Boston, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| Occupation | Poet, professor, activist |
| Nationality | American |
| Education | University of Massachusetts Amherst (BA) Harvard University (MEd) University of Oregon (MFA) |
| Genre | Poetry, ekphrasis |
| Notable works | The Cartographer’s Tongue, Blue Atlas |
| Notable awards | PEN USA Award for Poetry, Fulbright Fellowship |
Early life and education
Rich was born in Boston and raised in Brookline.[4] She is the sister of B. Ruby Rich, a film critic and scholar.[5] She earned her B.A. in creative writing from the University of Massachusetts Amherst and a Master of international and comparative education from Harvard University.[6] She later completed her MFA at the University of Oregon.[7]
Career
Humanitarian activism
Prior to her teaching career, Rich spent a decade in the international humanitarian sector. She served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Niger[8] and worked for Amnesty International.[9] She has described her experiences as an electoral supervisor in Bosnia and Herzegovina and a human rights trainer in Gaza and the West Bank as central themes in her writing from this time.[10]
Poetry and academia
Rich is an instructor at Highline College in Des Moines, Washington.[11] Her poetry is sometimes noted returning to themes of travel and cartography,[12] and her 2024 collection, Blue Atlas, explores reproductive choice and trauma through a surrealist lens.[13] In addition, she has worked in the poetic genre of ekphrasis.[14]
Bibliography
Poetry collections
- The Cartographer’s Tongue: Poems of the World. White Pine Press, 2000. ISBN 978-1893996069
- Cures Include Travel. White Pine Press, 2006. ISBN 978-1893996458
- The Alchemist’s Kitchen. White Pine Press, 2010. ISBN 978-1935210139[15][16]
- Cloud Pharmacy. White Pine Press, 2014. ISBN 978-1935210566[17]
- Gallery of Postcards and Maps: New and Selected Poems. Salmon Poetry, 2022. ISBN 978-1915022134[18]
- Blue Atlas. Red Hen Press, 2024. ISBN 978-1636281360[19][20][21][22]
Edited volumes
- The Strangest of Theatres: Poets Writing Across Borders (2013) (Co-edited with Ilya Kaminsky and Brian Turner)
- Demystifying the Manuscript (2023) (Co-edited with Kelli Russell Agodon)
Awards and honors
- PEN USA Award for Poetry (2001)[3]
- Fulbright Fellowship (South Africa)[23]
- Times Literary Supplement Award (London)[23]
- Artist Trust Fellowship[24]