Category: Poets

Arizona Poets from the repository by AZPoetry.com!

Ofelia Zepeda

April 15, 2025

Tohono O’odham Poet, Linguist, and Cultural Preservationist

Rooted in the Sonoran Desert and Tohono O’odham Heritage

Ofelia Zepeda is one of Arizona’s most important literary voices and a nationally recognized poet and linguist. A member of the Tohono O’odham Nation, Zepeda was born and raised in Stanfield, Arizona—a community nestled in the Sonoran Desert. Her poetry is shaped by the rhythms of desert life and the enduring cultural practices of her people. Zepeda’s work captures the delicate balance between language, land, and legacy, while illuminating the experiences of contemporary Indigenous life in Southern Arizona.

Academic Achievements and Linguistic Legacy

Zepeda earned her BA, MA, and PhD in linguistics from the University of Arizona, where she has become a vital figure in Indigenous language preservation. She is the author of A Papago Grammar (1983), one of the first comprehensive grammars of the Tohono O’odham language (formerly known as Papago). Her academic work goes hand-in-hand with her poetic voice, serving as a powerful tool to sustain and celebrate the O’odham language.

As a longtime professor at the University of Arizona, Zepeda has directed the American Indian Studies Program and currently leads the American Indian Language Development Institute (AILDI), which provides training and support to Native communities working to revitalize their languages. She also serves as the editor of Sun Tracks, a groundbreaking literary series at the University of Arizona Press devoted to publishing Native American writers and artists.

Poetry Grounded in Language and Land

Ofelia Zepeda is the author of two celebrated collections of poetry: Ocean Power: Poems from the Desert (1995) and Jewed’I-hoi / Earth Movements: O’odham Poems (1996). These collections weave together the cultural and linguistic threads of the Tohono O’odham people, offering bilingual poems that honor traditional songs, sacred spaces, and the natural world. Zepeda’s work often features “code-switching” between English and O’odham, creating a layered, living representation of her heritage.

Her poetry is deeply sensory—filled with desert imagery, familial memory, and cultural ceremony. As reviewer Dennis Holt wrote in Drunken Boat, Zepeda’s writing represents a “cultural mélange,” where language and landscape move in harmony. Whether writing about sacred spaces or everyday observations, Zepeda captures the spiritual power and complexity of Indigenous desert life.

National Recognition and the MacArthur Fellowship

In 1999, Ofelia Zepeda was awarded a prestigious MacArthur Fellowship—also known as the “Genius Grant”—for her groundbreaking work as a poet, educator, and language activist. She has also received funding from the Endangered Language Fund to support the Tohono O’odham Dictionary Project and other language revitalization efforts.

Zepeda’s contributions have had a lasting impact not only in Arizona, but across the country. She has become a beacon of Indigenous representation in American letters and a role model for Native writers and linguists alike.

Advocate, Educator, and Keeper of Words

Beyond her poetry, Zepeda is a tireless advocate for Indigenous education and community empowerment. Through her work at AILDI and the Sun Tracks series, she has mentored countless Native writers and helped bring Indigenous stories into classrooms and libraries throughout Arizona and beyond.

Her poetry and scholarship have been featured in literary journals, anthologies, and educational curricula, and she continues to write and speak at conferences and events across the country. Her ability to bridge academia and artistry makes her one of Arizona’s most enduring cultural figures.

Ofelia Zepeda’s Legacy in Arizona Poetry

Ofelia Zepeda’s life work is a testament to the transformative power of poetry, language, and cultural memory. From her roots in Stanfield to her leadership at the University of Arizona, Zepeda has carried the voice of her people into the wider world. Her poetry offers a deeply spiritual and intellectual journey through the Sonoran Desert and the living language of the Tohono O’odham Nation.

Hisaye Yamamoto

April 14, 2025

Hisaye Yamamoto: A Master of the Short Story and Voice of Japanese-American Experience

Hisaye Yamamoto (August 23, 1921 – January 30, 2011) was a groundbreaking Japanese-American writer and poet, best known for her acclaimed short story collection Seventeen Syllables and Other Stories. With her roots in Southern California and a terrible, yet powerful, connection to Arizona through her imprisonment at the Poston Internment Camp during World War II. Her writing illuminates the silent spaces between generations, cultures, and identities—particularly among Japanese Americans navigating life during and after internment.

A fierce literary voice marked by precision, subtlety, and emotional clarity, Yamamoto is celebrated on AZPoetry.com for her influence on American literature, as well as her profound survival and meaningful exploration of identity, language, and resilience.

From Strawberry Fields to the Written Word

Born in Redondo Beach, California, Hisaye Yamamoto was the daughter of Issei (first-generation Japanese) parents who worked as strawberry farmers amid oil fields. As a young girl, she developed a passion for reading and writing. By the age of 14, she was already publishing under the pen name “Napoleon.” Her early love for language became a foundation for her storytelling, rooted in the tension between her Japanese heritage and her American upbringing as a Nisei (second-generation Japanese American).

Yamamoto’s youthful voice flourished in the English-language sections of Japanese-American newspapers, foreshadowing the themes that would later define her career: generational conflict, gender roles, and cultural dislocation.

Life at Poston: Arizona’s Impact on Yamamoto’s Work

At age 20, Yamamoto and her family were imprisoned at the Poston War Relocation Center in southern Arizona following the bombing of Pearl Harbor. This internment camp experience, filled with loss and hardship—including the death of her brother Johnny, who was killed in action while serving in the U.S. Army’s 442nd Regimental Combat Team—profoundly shaped her worldview and creative voice.

While incarcerated at Poston, Yamamoto worked for the Poston Chronicle, the camp’s newspaper, where she published fiction and reported on daily life. One of her earliest fictional works, the serialized mystery Death Rides the Rails to Poston, originated here and would later be included in her collected stories. These formative years at Poston solidified her role as both witness and chronicler of a dark chapter in American history.

Seventeen Syllables and Other Stories: An American Literary Classic

Yamamoto’s most famous work, Seventeen Syllables and Other Stories, was first published in 1988 by Kitchen Table: Women of Color Press and later expanded by Rutgers University Press. These stories, written over four decades, explore the emotional terrain of Japanese-American families, especially the women, whose voices were often silenced or ignored.

Among the best-known stories are:

“Seventeen Syllables” – exploring a Nisei girl’s romantic awakening alongside her mother’s struggle for artistic expression through haiku, and the oppression she faces at the hands of her husband.
“Yoneko’s Earthquake” – portraying a daughter’s discovery of her mother’s hidden relationship with a Filipino farmworker.
“The Legend of Miss Sasagawara” – set in the Poston internment camp, this story reveals the misunderstood inner life of a Buddhist priest’s daughter who appears mentally ill.
“The High-Heeled Shoes” – a memoir-style exploration of sexual harassment and gendered violence in mid-century America.

These stories center on the unspoken—on silences within families, internalized trauma, cultural estrangement, and the roles women are forced to play in both Japanese and American societies. Her style, often likened to haiku, is compressed, poetic, and powerfully understated.

Life Beyond the Page: Catholic Worker, Family, and Perseverance

After the war, Yamamoto wrote for the Los Angeles Tribune, an African-American newspaper, where she gained firsthand insight into the complex racial dynamics of postwar America. Her memoir “Fire in Fontana” recounts the Fontana Ku Klux Klan firebombing of a Black family’s home—another example of her commitment to social justice and racial equity.

In 1953, she declined a writing fellowship at Stanford to live and volunteer at a Catholic Worker rehabilitation farm in Staten Island, practicing the philosophy of voluntary poverty and activism. She married Anthony DeSoto in 1955 and raised five children in Los Angeles while continuing to write, despite struggling to find time as a full-time homemaker. She once remarked, “Very little time is spent writing. But if somebody told me I couldn’t write, it would probably grieve me very much.”

Recognition and Awards

Yamamoto’s writing gained national and international acclaim, though she often shied away from fame. Among her honors:

Before Columbus Foundation’s American Book Award for Lifetime Achievement (1986)
Association for Asian American Studies Award for Literature (1988)
Asian American Writers’ Workshop Lifetime Achievement Award (2010)
Best American Short Stories (1952) for “Yoneko’s Earthquake”

Her work has been widely anthologized and adapted, including the American Playhouse special Hot Summer Winds (1991), which brought her stories to a national television audience.

Legacy: A Voice for the Silenced

Hisaye Yamamoto’s work continues to resonate with readers exploring race, gender, and the immigrant experience. Her influence is felt not only in Asian American literature but across the broader landscape of American letters. Her stories are frequently taught in university courses on literature, ethnic studies, and women’s studies.

Her time at the Poston camp connects her to Arizona’s historical and literary legacy, and her influence can be felt in the poetry and prose of Arizona writers today, including tributes in programs like the Alzheimer’s Poetry Project and other works celebrating her contribution to memory, resilience, and voice.

Explore More from Hisaye Yamamoto

Hisaye Yamamoto’s life and work are a vital part of Arizona’s literary heritage. Visit her AZPoetry.com poet bio page to learn more about her stories, internment-era writing, and her indelible impact on American literature.

Bob Frost

April 11, 2025

Scottsdale’s First Official Poet Laureate and Cowboy Wordsmith

From Marine Corps to Master of Metaphor

Born to share a name with one of the most celebrated poets in American history, Bob Frost of Scottsdale, Arizona, found his own poetic path through life’s winding roads. His journey into poetry began with a high school English assignment, and over the years, his pen never stopped moving. Even during his time in the U.S. Marine Corps and throughout a successful professional career, Frost continued to write verse—capturing his experiences, observations, and reflections on life in rhythmic form.

After retiring in 1997, Frost revisited the growing collection of poetry he had amassed over decades. That decision culminated in the release of his debut book, A Sweet Place to Play, marking the start of his public journey as a poet.

A Cowboy Poet in the West’s Most Western Town

Frost’s poetic voice deepened after joining the Verde Vaqueros, a charitable riding group supporting the Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Scottsdale. Inspired by the traditions of the American West, Frost began writing cowboy poetry—an art form rich in humor, grit, and heart. One of his poems won a cowboy poetry contest in Tombstone, Arizona, prompting the publication of his second book, Cowboy Poems about the Old West and New, in 2009.

Noticing that Scottsdale—branded “The West’s Most Western Town”—lacked an official cowboy poet, Frost approached then-Mayor Jim Lane with a proposal: to become the city’s poet laureate. Though the initial request didn’t yield an immediate response, Frost continued to build bridges with Scottsdale’s cultural community by reading poetry at city council meetings and public events.

After reading his poem A Cowboy’s Lament at a memorial for Councilman Tony Nelssen, the mayor responded. In that moment, Bob Frost officially became Scottsdale’s first poet laureate, a position he would hold with distinction for more than a decade.

Championing Poetry in the Community

During his 11-year tenure, Bob Frost made it his mission to bring poetry into everyday life in Scottsdale. He worked closely with the Scottsdale Center for the Arts and Scottsdale Public Library to organize workshops, literary events, and public readings. He also hosted several episodes of a poetry-themed show on Scottsdale’s municipal television channel, broadening his reach to residents throughout the valley.

One of his most beloved contributions was the Poetry Hike, held in the Phoenix Mountains Preserve. Participants hiked scenic desert trails, pausing every few hundred feet to share and reflect on poetry—blending physical activity with literary appreciation in a uniquely Arizonan fashion.

Frost was not just a poet but a facilitator of creative dialogue. He encouraged readers and writers of all ages to engage with poetry, leading by example with his generous spirit and relatable storytelling.

Poet Laureate Emeritus

In 2024, Frost stepped down from the role of Scottsdale Poet Laureate, passing the torch to the next voice in the city’s growing poetry legacy. He was honored with the title Poet Laureate Emeritus and invited to serve on the selection committee for the city’s new laureate.

Though no longer the official voice of poetry for Scottsdale, Frost continues to inspire through his published works, community involvement, and dedication to keeping the spirit of the West alive in verse.

David Tabor

April 10, 2025

David Tabor: Analog Artist, Photographer, and Arizona Poet

A Creative Rooted in Arizona’s Poetry and Art Scene

David Tabor is a multidisciplinary artist whose creative journey blends poetry, photography, and performance. Based in Arizona, Tabor made his early mark in the local poetry slam community, creating zines that featured his work and the work of fellow poets. His passion for the written word evolved alongside his deep love of visual storytelling—capturing life through analog photography and hand-crafted zines.

Poetry Slam Veteran and DIY Publisher

Tabor was an active voice in Phoenix’s spoken word scene, performing and producing zines during the Essenza Coffee Shop days. His eye for aesthetics and reverence for authenticity gave rise to a body of work that valued intimacy, imperfection, and the handmade. Zines were often his publishing medium of choice, a perfect format for sharing raw, immediate poetic experiences with a grassroots audience.

A Return to Analog Photography

During the pandemic, Tabor returned to one of his earliest creative loves: analog photography. Drawing on skills he developed in the ’90s, he embraced traditional film, darkroom printing, and a slower, more contemplative process. In just a few years, he produced four photo zines and honed a distinctive style centered on “finding beauty in what’s already there.”

His photographic work often explores ordinary moments and overlooked textures of urban and natural spaces. Through zines and hand-printed darkroom pieces, Tabor invites audiences to experience stillness and see the poetry embedded in the everyday.

Collaboration and Connection

One of his proudest accomplishments is a collaborative photo book with artist Lisa Tang Liu. The project was a labor of love—combining visual artistry and editorial rigor, and pushing Tabor’s creative boundaries further than ever before.

Bells, Books, and Improvisation

When he’s not behind the camera, David Tabor works as a bell maker and staff photographer at Cosanti Originals in Paradise Valley, Arizona. The overlap of craftsmanship in both photography and bronze casting has become part of his artistic ethos—use the tools at hand, trust the process, and let the work speak for itself.

A man of many talents, Tabor is also an ordained minister. He once performed spontaneous wedding ceremonies during “7 Minutes in Heaven,” a beloved performance series at Phoenix’s Space 55 Theater.

The Perspective of Time

Tabor attributes much of his recent success to personal growth and perspective. Once deterred by self-doubt, he’s come to embrace failure as a stepping stone in the creative process. Whether through poetry, photography, or zines, David Tabor continues to explore new frontiers while remaining rooted in authenticity and intention.

Cymelle Edwards Flagstaff Poet AZpoetry.com

Cymelle Leah Edwards

April 10, 2025

Flagstaff-Based Poet and Editor with National Recognition

Cymelle Leah Edwards is a rising literary voice from Flagstaff, Arizona, whose work echoes across page and stage. A Pushcart Prize nominee and recipient of the prestigious Diana Gabaldon Creative Writing Award, Edwards is quickly earning a place among the most vital poets in the Southwest. With a strong commitment to both craft and community, she balances creative output with leadership roles in Arizona’s vibrant literary scene.

Academic Excellence and Literary Leadership

Edwards holds an MFA in Creative Writing from Northern Arizona University, where her passion for poetry blossomed into a broader commitment to publishing and editing. She formerly served as the Poetry Editor for Thin Air Magazine, NAU’s long-running literary journal. Her editorial insight also extends as an editor at Kelp Journal, where she cultivated voices across genres.

Community Organizer and Advocate for the Arts

Cymelle is not only a powerful writer, but also a champion of literary culture in Northern Arizona. She served as a board member for the Northern Arizona Book Festival, helping to organize and support one of the state’s most important annual literary events. Her work as an organizer underscores her dedication to amplifying diverse voices and creating inclusive platforms for poets and writers throughout the region.

Publishing Credits and Performance Poetry

Her written work has been published in respected literary journals such as Elm Leaves Journal, Contra Viento, and Ghost City Press. Beyond the page, Cymelle has made waves in Arizona’s spoken word scene, winning the Phoenix Poetry Slam at the downtown art venue Megaphone PHX, a hub for poetic performance and creative experimentation.

GCU Roots and the Arizona Connection

Before pursuing her MFA, Cymelle attended Grand Canyon University, an institution known for producing talented artists and thinkers. Her creative trajectory remains deeply tied to Arizona—from the desert landscape to the mountain views of Flagstaff—and her poetry often reflects the natural, cultural, and emotional terrain of the Southwest.

A Voice to Watch in Contemporary Poetry

Cymelle Leah Edwards represents the best of contemporary Arizona poetry: talented, thoughtful, and unafraid to confront personal and political truths. Whether through her haunting verse, her curatorial insight, or her work behind the scenes in the literary community, Edwards is a vital part of Arizona’s poetic identity and an emerging force on the national literary stage. She currently lives in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Jeff Falk

April 10, 2025

Jeff Falk: Visual Artist, Poet, and Arizona Arts Icon

From the Heartland to the Desert

Born in Nebraska and raised in Kansas, Jeff Falk moved with his family to Phoenix, Arizona in 1959. Since then, he has firmly rooted himself in the Arizona arts scene as both a groundbreaking visual artist and an influential figure in the world of spoken word poetry. His creative contributions—spanning visual media, poetry, and community-building—have made Falk a cornerstone of the Grand Avenue arts movement in downtown Phoenix.

A Creative Force in Phoenix Since 1984

Since the early 1980s, Falk has been developing a uniquely expressive style through mixed media art. Working with painting, drawing, collage/decollage, glue, wood, paper, and found objects, he believes that “a work of art is the sum of its parts”—each piece a fusion of tangible materials and intangible personal experiences. Falk often employs “materials at hand” as a philosophical approach to creativity, emphasizing authenticity, resourcefulness, and intuitive composition.

Champion of Spoken Word Poetry in Arizona

While Falk is primarily known as a visual artist, his impact on Arizona’s poetry scene is equally significant. As the founder of the gallery Deus Ex Machina on Grand Avenue, he created a welcoming and experimental venue for poets and artists alike. It was at this gallery that Falk launched “The Poetry Industrial Complex” and “Caffeine Corridor,” two beloved spoken word series that became integral to the development of Phoenix’s contemporary poetry scene.

Many Arizona poets—including Jack Evans, Bill Campana, and Shawnte Orion—credit Jeff Falk with offering a creative home where they could grow their voices and find their audience. These events became cultural institutions, giving a platform to emerging and established writers while blurring the lines between performance, activism, and art.

Poetry as Communication and Critique

Jeff Falk’s poetic philosophy is as uncompromising and insightful as his artwork. He writes with the belief that “getting inside other people’s heads with words is the last vestige of semi-honest communication left in a world that mistakes opinions for fact, celebrities for heroes, loudness for meaning, and glitz and glamor for truth.” His poetry cuts through noise, offering readers sharp, poignant reflections on society, identity, and the human experience.

A Legacy of Raw Creativity and Community

Whether in a gallery or behind a microphone, Falk has spent decades inspiring Arizona’s creative community through honesty, originality, and unfiltered expression. His commitment to nurturing the arts has left a permanent mark on Phoenix’s cultural identity.

David Chorlton

April 9, 2025

David Chorlton: Bridging Continents Through Poetry

From Austria to Arizona: A Journey Across Cultures

Born in Austria in 1948, David Chorlton spent his formative years in Manchester, England, amidst the industrial landscapes of the northern region. In his early twenties, he relocated to Vienna, Austria, where he immersed himself in the rich European art and music scene. In 1978, Chorlton moved to Phoenix, Arizona, with his wife, Roberta, marking the beginning of a profound connection with the American Southwest.

A Deep Connection with the Desert Landscape

Settling in Arizona, Chorlton developed a profound appreciation for the desert’s unique beauty and its diverse wildlife. This admiration is vividly reflected in his poetry, which often explores themes of nature and the environment. His collection, The Porous Desert, exemplifies this focus, offering readers an intimate portrayal of the Arizona landscape.

Acclaimed Works and Literary Contributions

Throughout his literary career, Chorlton has produced an impressive array of poetry collections. Notable works include:

Poetry Mountain
Waiting for the Quetzal (March Street Press)
The Devil’s Sonata (FutureCycle Press, 2012)
Selected Poems (FutureCycle Press, 2014)

His chapbooks have also garnered recognition, with The Lost River winning the Ronald Wardall Award from Rain Mountain Press in 2008, and From the Age of Miracles securing the Slipstream Chapbook Competition in 2009.

Exploring Fiction and Translation

Beyond poetry, Chorlton ventured into fiction with The Taste of Fog, a novel set in 1962 Vienna that delves into the complexities of a murder investigation. Additionally, he has contributed to literary translation, bringing to English audiences the works of Austrian poet Christine Lavant in Shatter the Bell in My Ear, published by The Bitter Oleander Press.

A Voice in Anthologies and Exhibitions

Chorlton’s poetry has been featured in various anthologies, including Fever Dreams (University of Arizona Press) and New Poets of the American West (Many Voices Press). His work also played a role in the “Fires of Change” exhibition, a collaboration between artists and scientists addressing the impact of climate change on forest management.

Libby Rooney

April 9, 2025

Libby Rooney: Spoken Word Poet and Arts Advocate in Globe, Arizona

From Israel to Arizona: A Journey Fueled by Creativity

After living in Israel for 35 years, Libby Rooney found her new home in Globe, Arizona, where her vibrant voice and dynamic presence have made her a standout in the state’s spoken word scene. As manager of the Chrysocolla Inn, Rooney brings hospitality and heart to the small-town experience, but it’s her poetry and performance that truly define her creative spirit. With roots in both global living and local storytelling, she brings a unique perspective to the Arizona arts community.

A Voice for Women and the World

Rooney rose to national attention when she performed at the 2015 Women of the World Poetry Slam in Albuquerque, New Mexico—one of the most respected poetry competitions in the country. There, she showcased her passion for performance poetry and feminist advocacy through dynamic, emotionally charged work. Her poem “To Be” was later featured on the widely followed Button Poetry YouTube channel, helping her reach a global audience of poetry lovers.

Performing Across Arizona’s Spoken Word Scene

Libby Rooney has shared her poetry at some of Arizona’s most cherished venues for spoken word, including The Firehouse Gallery, Lawn Gnome Publishing, and Jobot Coffee in Phoenix, as well as Miami Artworks in the Globe-Miami region. Her performances are known for their fierce honesty, lyrical insight, and an ability to connect deeply with diverse audiences.

Writing for the Globe Miami Times

In addition to her poetry, Libby Rooney is a dedicated writer and contributor for the Globe Miami Times, where she covers the arts and creative culture of Globe-Miami. Her stories highlight the thriving arts community in this historic Arizona region, giving a platform to visual artists, musicians, performers, and makers who are shaping the cultural fabric of the area.

Celebrating Small-Town Arizona Through Art

Rooney’s love for Globe is evident in her writing, her performances, and her commitment to local life. She often draws inspiration from the unique landscape and people of southern Arizona, blending personal narrative with a broader cultural commentary. Whether she’s capturing the essence of small-town beauty or advocating for greater artistic visibility, Rooney plays a vital role in keeping Arizona’s creative communities connected and alive.

Colorado Pete

April 5, 2025

Early Life and Service

Arthur Owen Peterson, better known by his pen name Colorado Pete, was born on July 23, 1896, in Fosston, Minnesota. The son of Norwegian immigrants, Peterson grew up in Bagley, where his family ran a hardware store on Main Street. He was a gifted student and graduated from Bagley High School at age sixteen before attending Carleton College in Northfield, Minnesota.

In 1918, he enlisted in the U.S. Army during World War I and was deployed to France as a sergeant in the Fifty-Fourth Coast Artillery Corps. After the war, he returned home suffering from amoebic dysentery—an illness common among soldiers—that would eventually lead to long-term complications, including tuberculosis.

A Poet in the Desert

Peterson’s connection to Arizona began in the 1920s when his health necessitated long-term care in dry climates. He spent the winter of 1924–25 at the Whipple Veterans Hospital in Prescott, Arizona, a pivotal location in both his life and literary career. Surrounded by red rocks, desert skies, and the quiet solitude of recovery, Peterson began writing poetry under the pseudonym Colorado Pete. These poems captured not only his sharp wit but also the stark beauty and resilient spirit of the American Southwest.

Published in the Chicago Tribune

From his hospital bed, Colorado Pete’s words traveled far. Between 1923 and 1932, 111 of his poems were published in the Chicago Tribune, gaining a readership of over 700,000 at its peak. His debut poem, “The Dentist Intervenes,” appeared in September 1923 and marked the beginning of a prolific publishing journey. Though his work often carried a humorous tone, it also reflected deeper truths about life, nature, illness, and survival in the face of adversity.

Legacy in Arizona and Beyond

While his roots were in Minnesota, it was Arizona that helped shape Colorado Pete’s poetic legacy. His time in Prescott infused his poetry with a Southwestern sensibility—vivid landscapes, frontier wit, and moments of contemplative solitude. Despite his chronic illness, he continued to write until his final hospitalization at Fort Snelling, where he passed away on February 15, 1932, at the age of 35.

Upon his death, the Chicago Tribune honored him by writing, “Most of you … knew him only through his beautiful poems in the Line; but to those who knew Arthur Owen Peterson personally, he was, more even than a fine poet, a brave and gallant lad.”

Remembering Colorado Pete

Today, Colorado Pete stands as a voice of a generation touched by war and healed by the desert. His poems live on as a testament to the enduring power of humor, hope, and the transformative landscape of Arizona. AZPoetry.com proudly remembers him as one of Arizona’s early poetic voices whose work continues to echo through time.

Valerie Martínez

April 2, 2025

Valerie Martínez: Poet, Educator, and Advocate for Art, History, and Healing

Valerie Martínez is a celebrated American poet, writer, educator, translator, and arts administrator whose work transcends the boundaries of genre and discipline. Born and raised in Santa Fe, New Mexico, Martínez’s poetry is deeply rooted in the cultural, historical, and ecological landscape of the American Southwest. A descendant of both Spanish colonizers and Indigenous peoples, she brings a rich ancestral perspective to her writing—an intersection of memory, identity, and place.

From Santa Fe to the World: Life, Education, and Travel

Valerie Martínez left Santa Fe in 1979 to attend Vassar College, earning her A.B. in English and American Literature. She later pursued an MFA in Creative Writing/Poetry at the University of Arizona. Her life and poetry have been shaped by extensive travels across the United States and around the globe—including long stays in Swaziland (now Eswatini), Israel, Japan, South Africa, and Latin America.

Martínez’s time abroad, especially her years teaching English in Southern Africa, gave her a broad cultural perspective that informs the themes of empathy, environmental stewardship, and social justice that permeate her work.

A Distinguished Career in Education and Literary Arts

Before returning to New Mexico permanently in 2003, Martínez served as a college professor for more than 23 years, teaching courses in poetry, American literature, women’s literature, Latino/a literature, and Native American literature. From 2018 to 2021, she served as Director of History and Literary Arts at the National Hispanic Cultural Center in Albuquerque.

Her dedication to the intersection of art and community also led her to co-found Littleglobe, Inc., and later, the nonprofit arts and social change organization Artful Life. Most recently, she led the groundbreaking CHART project (Culture, History, Art, Reconciliation, and Truth), facilitating a year-long community engagement process addressing the complex cultural history of Santa Fe through inclusive storytelling and healing.

A Legacy of Poetry That Speaks to the World

Valerie Martínez is the author of six poetry collections, two chapbooks, and a book of translations. Her groundbreaking poetry blends lyricism with political and ecological awareness, giving voice to the voiceless and illuminating histories too often overlooked.

Notable Poetry Collections:

Count (University of Arizona Press, 2021)
A hybrid book-length poem that examines climate change through myth, personal memory, environmental data, and global storytelling. Count was adapted into a choral composition titled As the Waters Began to Rise by composer Peter Gilbert.
Each and Her (University of Arizona Press, 2010)
A powerful meditation on femicide and violence against women, particularly the murdered and disappeared women of Juárez, Mexico. The book was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize and received the 2011 Arizona Book Award.
Absence, Luminescent (Four Way Books, 1999; reissued 2010)
Her debut collection, which won the Larry Levis Prize and a Greenwall Grant from the Academy of American Poets. Jean Valentine praised it as “expansive, surprising, intelligent… filled with compassion.”
World to World (University of Arizona Press, 2004)
A collection that continues Martínez’s exploration of identity, ancestry, and spiritual inheritance.
And They Called it Horizon (Sunstone Press, 2010)
Written during her tenure as Poet Laureate of Santa Fe, this collection reflects her deep connection to place and community.

Publications, Honors, and Influence

Martínez’s poetry has been widely published in esteemed literary journals such as Poetry, American Poetry Review, AGNI, The Colorado Review, and Mandorla. Her work also appears in more than 30 anthologies including The Best American Poetry.

A frequent guest speaker and reader at national literary festivals and universities, Martínez continues to inspire a new generation of poets with her genre-blending work and community-focused approach to art.

Her poem “Bowl” was featured in the PBS/Poetry Foundation “Poetry Everywhere” series and was also set to music by composer Glen Roven and performed by soprano Talise Trevigne. Another poem, “September, 2001,” was featured in The Washington Post‘s “Poet’s Choice” column.

Poetry as Artful Action

What sets Valerie Martínez apart is her unwavering belief in the power of poetry as a tool for transformation—not just personal, but communal and ecological. Her work invites readers to bear witness, to reflect, and to act.

Whether she’s writing about climate change, cultural memory, femicide, or the beauty of New Mexico’s landscape, her poems ask us to reconsider the stories we tell and the silences we keep.