Rachel Sherwood was born in Washington, DC, and grew up in Southern California. She attended St. David’s University College in Wales and California State University Northridge. She died in an automobile accident in 1979, at the age of 25. At the time of her death, Sherwood was enrolled as a graduate student at Cal State Northridge and was employed there as a teacher of English composition. To preserve Sherwood’s memory, her friends established the Rachel Sherwood Poetry Prize at Northridge; the award is given annually to a student poet.
More By This Poet
The World in the Evening
As this suburban summer wanders toward dark
cats watch from their driveways — they are bored
and await miracles. The houses show, through windows
flashes of knife and fork, the blue light
of televisions, inconsequential fights
between wife and husband in the guest bathroom
voices sound...