Christopher Bursk

Christopher Bursk (born 1943) is an American poet, professor, and activist. He is author of nine poetry collections, most recently, The First Inhabitants of Arcadia published by the (University of Arkansas Press, 2006), and praised by The New York Times:

Bursk writes with verve and insight about child rearing, aging parents, sexuality, his literary heroes, the sexuality of his literary heroes.^[1]

Life

Bursk was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and received his B.A. from Tufts University, an MFA from Warren Wilson College and an MA and a PhD from Boston University. He lives in Langhorne Manor, PA and teaches at Bucks County Community College. He and his wife, Mary Ann, have three children: Christian, Norabeth, and Justin.^[2][3]

His poems have been published in literary journals and magazines including Paris Review,^[4] The American Poetry Review, and Manhattan Review, and in anthologies including The Mysterious Life of the Heart: Writing from The Sun About Passion, Longing, and Love (Sun Publishing Company, 2009),^[5] and Three new poets: Christopher Bursk, William Corbett, Paul Hannigan (Pym-Randall Press, 1966).^[6]

Awards

His literary honors include fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts, Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, 1995 Pew Foundation^[7] and Guggenheim Foundation. His awards include the Capricorn Poetry Award, the Green Rose Prize, Milton Kessler Poetry Book Award, the 49th Parallel Poetry Award, and the Donald Hall Prize in Poetry. His humanitarian honors include the Bucks County Citizen of the Year award from Bucks County Community College, and the Bucks County Humanitarian of the Year award. His humanitarian activities have included working as a probation counselor, volunteering in shelter for abused women, and teaching poetry to prisoners at Bucks County Prison; and he has been an advocate for the homeless and an organizer for farm workers’ rights.^[8][9]

Published Works

Full-length Poetry Collections

• The First Inhabitants of Arcadia (University of Arkansas Press, 2006)
• The Improbable Swervings of Atoms (University of Pittsburgh Press, 2005)
• Ovid at Fifteen (New Issues Press, 2003)
• Cell Count (Texas Tech University Press, 1997)
• The Way Water Rubs Stone (Word Works, 1988)
• Places of Comfort, Places of Justice (Humanities and Arts Press, 1987)
• Place of Residence (Sparrow Press, 1983)
• Standing Watch (Houghton Mifflin, 1978)

Chapbooks

• Making Wings (State Street Press, 1983)

References

1. ^ The New York Times > Poetry Chronicle > April 23, 2006 > Review by Joel Brouwer of The First Inhabitants of Arcadia by Christopher Bursk
2. ^ Pennsylvania Center for the Book > Complete List of Biographies > Christopher Bursk
3. ^ Bucks Country Community College > Department of Language & Literature > Faculty Profile > Christopher Bursk
4. ^ The Paris Review > Number 74 – Fall/Winter 1978 > Table of Contents
5. ^ The Sun Publishing Company Website > Books
6. ^ Pennsylvania Center for the Book > Complete List of Biographies > Christopher Bursk
7. ^ The Pew Center for Arts and Heritage > Fellowships > Artist Profile > Christopher Bursk
8. ^ The Pew Center for Arts and Heritage > Fellowships > Artist Profile > Christopher Bursk
9. ^ Pennsylvania Center for the Book > Complete List of Biographies > Christopher Bursk

Sources

• Pennsylvania Center for the Book > Complete List of Biographies > Christopher Bursk
• Poets & Writers Directory, Christopher Bursk Listing
• Library of Congress Online Catalog > Christopher Bursk

External links

• Poem: www.poets.org > Why Latin Should Still Be Taught in High School by Christopher Bursk
• Poem: www.poets.org > Your Father Sunbathing by Christopher Bursk
• Poem: Standards > Vol. 7, No. 1 > Foster Child by Christopher Bursk
• Poem: The Sun Magazine > February 2008, Issue 386 > Ashes, Ashes We All Fall Down by Christopher Bursk
• Review: The New York Times > Poetry Chronicle > April 23, 2006 > Review by Joel Brouwer of The First Inhabitants of Arcadia by Christopher Bursk
• Review: Rattle > #27 – Summer 2007 > Review by Marcus Smith of The First Inhabitants of Arcadia by Christopher Bursk
• Author Page: University of Arkansas Press > The First Inhabitants of Arcadia by Christopher Bursk

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Name	Bursk, Christopher
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Date of birth	1943
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