About
African-American poet who was named Poet Laureate of California in 2005. He earned the prestigious American Book Award for two of his publications: The Sound of Dreams Remembered and Bodies and Soul: Musical Memoirs.
Before Fame
He edited a collegiate literary magazine during his time at the University of Michigan.
Trivia
His early poetry collections include Geography of the Near Past and The Song Turning Back into Itself.
Family Life
He married Arline Young in 1963; the couple's son was born eight years later.
Associated With
He and poet Frank Stanford were both born in Mississippi.
