David Wagoner was born in Ohio, raised
in Whiting, Indiana, from which, as he tells me,
you can see Eastern Chicago, and as for the past 14 years,
been at the University of Washington,
where he is an English professor.
During that period--
1953 to 1966-- he has published four books
of poetry and four novels.
And a fifth novel is due this year,
with the very promising title of Baby, Come on Inside.
During 1961 to 1962, he was the editor of the Indiana Press
Poetry Series.
He's also edited the notebooks of Theodore Roethke
and, since 1965, has been editor of Poetry Northwest, published
at the University of Washington, which is one of the best poetry
magazines in the country.
In recognition for all of this, he
has received a Guggenheim Fellowship in fiction,
a Ford Fellowship in drama, a cash award from the National
Institute of Arts and Letters, and the Morton Dauwen Zabel
prize from Poetry Magazine.
Now, the unusual thing about this poet
is that he is uncommonly good at both poetry and fiction.
He has obviously worked very hard at both.
And I will be delighted at this point
to let Mr. Wagoner speak for himself.
So will you please welcome Mr. David Wagoner.
[APPLAUSE]