b. 1942d. 1997
William Matthews
William Matthews's poetry not only explores his interest in family, jazz, and basketball, but delves into the layers of human consciousness, natural cycles, and the American experience. Throughout his life, his poetry became more and more formal.
Photo: William Matthews, photo by Star Black
Audio
“Sad Stories Told in Bars: The Reader’s Digest Version” (from “Sad Stories”)
Alison Tupay (mezzo-soprano)1:31
About
Born in Cincinnati, Ohio, Matthews graduated with his B.A. from Yale and his M.A. from the University of North Carolina. Matthews’s first collection of poetry to garner attention was Ruining the New Road: Poems, published in 1970, and he published prolifically after that volume.
Throughout his lifetime, Matthews taught at several universities, won many major awards and fellowships, and served as a member and chair of the Literature Panel of the National Endowment for the Arts. For more information, please visit the websites listed to the right.
–Christie Finn
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