Mark B. Hamilton

Poet

Author's Bio

Mark B. Hamilton (MFA, University of Montana) works in diachronic forms to transform content, adapting from both Eastern and Western traditions. His poems often focus on the riparian zone of the Missouri River, where he has traveled extensively by kayak as an outdoor enthusiast and amateur naturalist. His special interests include First Nations cosmologies, pre-industrial America, and the poetics of change.

Recent ecopoetry volumes include: LAKE, RIVER, MOUNTAIN (Cornerstone Press, University of Wisconsin, 2024), the chapbook UPSTREAM (Finishing Line Press, 2024), and OYO: The Beautiful River (Shanti Arts Publishing, 2020).

Mark has taught creative writing, composition, literature, and editing for twenty years at Ball State University and Missouri Western State University. For additional information about the author, view:  www.MarkBHamilton.WordPress.com or contact him at: markhamilton98643@yahoo.com

He is proud to have served two environmental publications: as editor of Words On Wilderness, University of Montana, and as founding editor-in-chief, Groundwork: a natural incentive, Ball State University. From 2004-2008, he acted as founding Director of Native America Day, in honor of the First Nations, Missouri Western State University. He remains an active member of ASLE, PSA, and AI.

Education: 
University of Montana, Missoula MFA
Writers Retreats: 
Ucross Residency Program

Publications & Prizes

Anthologies:
Summer Shade: A Collection of Modern Poetry (Quill Books, 2001)
,
Heron Anthology (Adrienne Lee Press, 1996)
Books:
OYO, The Beautiful River: an environmental narrative (Shanti Arts Publishing, 2020)
,
Confronting the Basilisk (Ball State University Press, 1994)
Chapbook:
100 Miles of Heat (Finishing Line Press, 2017)
Journals:
About Place Journal
,
Albatross
,
Cider Press Review
,
Frogpond
,
Hopewell Review
,
Light Quarterly
,
Naugatuck River Review
,
North Dakota Quarterly
,
Oxford Poetry
,
Salzburg Poetry Review
,
Slipstream
,
Stand Magazine
,
The Listening Eye
,
Third Wednesday
Prizes won: 

Most Recent: First Honorable Mention, runner-up, for the 2024 Donna Wolf Palacio Poetry Book Competition.

Previous Recognitions include a: Matthew Hansen Endowment for Wilderness Studies, National Panhandler Chapbook Award, National Competition Anthology Award, Indiana Governor's Award, 3rd Wednesday Annual Contest HM, three Colorado Poetry Anthology Awards, two NEA Administrative Indiana State Visiting Artists Grants, a Literary Fellowship at UCROSS, an Honorary Literary Residency at The Sitka Center for Art & Ecology, and an Honorary Position as Visiting Research Faculty, Portland State University, among others.

As a scholar of pre-industrial America, his researched essays have appeared in: The Heritage of the Great Plains, The Bulletin of the Chicago Herpetological Society, We Proceeded On, and History Magazine, with inclusion into the Folk Life Archives, US Library of Congress.

Personal Favorites

Favorite authors: 
Many and growing. Old and new. Emerging and re-discovered. Poets remain my community of choice. They have saved me. They have given me a place to be. They define who I might yet become. Recently, I have been absorbed with our new eco-poets, and the anthologies of Native Nations poets, especially as edited by Joy Harjo.
What I'm reading now: 
The Complete Poems of Emily Dickinson by Edited by Thomas H. Johnson, The Best of Pushcart, Past Thirty Years by various

More Information

Gives readings: 
Yes
Travels for readings: 
Yes
Identifies as: 
European American
Prefers to work with: 
Any
Fluent in: 
English
Born in: 
Hartford, CT
Connecticut
Raised in: 
North Granby, CT
Connecticut
Please note: All information in the Directory is provided by the listed writers or their representatives.
Last update: Nov 07, 2024