I grew up in Southern Pines, NC and began writing poetry seriously when I was 26, after my 2 children were born. A scholarship enabled me to move with my kids to New York to pursue a degree in literature at Columbia University. There I studied with the poet Kenneth Koch and we soon became friends and collaborators. My first two books were written with Koch and five solo books followed. My latest book is Visiting Night at the Academy of Longing, a collection of my poems published by Lavender Ink January 1, 2016. I've taught writing at Columbia and with the NY State Poets in the School Program and have published my poetry in many journals, including Poetry, Partisan Review, Manhattan Review, Harvard Review, Hudson Review, Mississippi Review and Image. My work has also been chosen for several editions of the the Best Spiritual Writing Series. I live with my husband in Brooklyn, NY.