An important figure in the New Formalism poetry movement - which argued for a return to metrical and rhyming verse - Mark Jarman was born in Lexington, Kentucky in 1952. As with the output of so many writers, Jarman's oeuvre has been influenced by his upbringing; his father was a member of the clergy and Jarman grew up in a decidedly religious household.
The winner of the 1998 Lenore Marshall Poetry Prize for his collection 'Questions for Ecclesiastes', a collection whose very title indicates the importance of religion in his work, Jarman has experimented stylistically throughout his career, writing free verse, prose poems and more.
Currently serving as Centennial Professor of English at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee, Jarman continues to write. His is an oeuvre punctuated by the themes of family life and God's role in our lives and his versatile style has garnered him recognition from both readers and prize committees.
