Marvin Bell was born in New York City in 1937. He received his bachelor’s degree from Alfred University, his master’s degree from the University of Chicago, and then entered the University of Iowa for a Master of Fine Arts degree. He has written over 16 books of poetry including Rampant, Nightworks, and Poems, 1962-2000, as well as several essay collections. He has been a National Book Award Finalist and A Probable Volume of Dreams (1969) was a Lamont Poetry Selection of the Academy of American Poets. Marvin Bell has taught such writers as Rita Dove, John Irving and Joy Harjo and has won numerous honors for his work. Named Iowa’s first Poet Laureate in 2000, he was on the faculty at the University of Iowa until 2005. Bell has toured with the Rock Bottom Remainders, a band of writers that includes, among others, Stephen King and Amy Tan.